An unsaved man is dying in a hospital bed. He has lived his entire adult life as a shrewd business man β¦ year after year he has valued money and power over love, compassion and time with his family. He is lying there alone without family or friends.
A pastor walks in, pulls up a chair with his bible in hand and begins to speak:
βThereβs a story in here that I just read called the Parable of the Vineyard Owner. Itβs about this rich guy who owns a vineyard. He needs some people to work it so he hires some early in the morning. He then arrives in the marketplace around ten in the morning, finds some other workers and he hires them as well. The same thing happens at noon and again at three and then again at five. At the end of the day, he lines them up so that he can pay them, beginning with the ones he hired last.
He gives them all a full days wage.
The guys that he hired first thing in the morning β¦ those who worked a full day β¦ figured they were going to receive a lot more money. When they were paid, however, they were paid the same as the ones who worked only one hour β¦ and they began to protest.
The owner then says βI havenβt been unfair β¦ Did you not agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take what is yours and depart.'β
The dying man is looking intently as the pastor pauses and then continues:
βThe point to all of this is that the vineyard owner is God. The wages are entering into heaven. And it doesnβt matter whether you come to God late β¦ or early. You are given the same reward.
β¦ But this is the last call. Will you accept?β
