I do not know if this has ever happened in your home, but there have been times when my wife has asked me to do something for her and I agree with every intention of fulfilling her expectations. However, things happen, and distractions come, and I do not do what I said I would do. Although I do not practice this well, I know that the best approach to a request for action is to get on it immediately and stick with it until it is completed.
Jesus understood this idea and even applied it to our spiritual journey. He related a parable with the main characters being two sons and a father. Dad made a request and got very different outcomes from his sons. We find this recorded in Matthew 21:28-32. In verses 28-31, we read this, “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 ” ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered.
This is an interesting scenario that well represents the hearts and actions of many people, even today. Jesus gives us his explanation of the story in verse 32, Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
The immediate point Jesus is making is that those who have the clearest opportunity to understand and accept the truth of the message of salvation are most often the last to receive it. However, those whose lives are most difficult and from outward appearances have no interest in Jesus, are most attracted. He is addressing the Pharisees who should have clearly accepted Jesus as the Messiah promised to them in the Old Testament. But they were so wrapped up int their own “religion” that they missed the truth.
Before we spend too much time lamenting the foolishness of these spiritually informed by disinterested people, we need to take a good hard look inwardly. There is no place on earth that has more access to the Gospel then we do in the United States. There is not place that has a greater level of freedom to live out the truth of the Gospel openly and without fear. However, in nations where there is persecution and even martyrdom, the church is flourishing. Unfortunately, the level of disinterest and even hostility toward Jesus is extraordinary in our county. Jesus is very clear that we have accountability for how we respond to what we have been given. Luke 12:48, But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
This leads us to this application for each of us. One of Satan’s biggest ploys is complacency. He does not have to get us to commit flagrant sin to defeat us and rob us of the full blessing of our Lord. His tricks include keeping us too busy to spend time seeking the presence of our Lord. Or he convinces us that we have enough of Jesus, so we do not pursue him with our whole heart. Satan loves it when we begin to put our own agendas ahead of the will of God. Let us strive to be the third son that is not in the story Jesus told, the one who agrees to do his Father’s will and then follows through with it. God is honored with our obedience, and we are assured of receiving his favor.