At a time when the majority of nations have huge unemployment problems, at a time when almost every club, church group and community has many unemployed members, we present this parable on employment.

This parable is about:

• Salvation and the divine invitation to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not about the employment problems of any particular nation.
• The Employer: YaHuWaH the Almighty Elohim of Israel.
• The Workers - True believers in the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.
• The amount of work remaining to be done. This can be gauged by the fact that the divine Employer started seeking workers at 6 am to ensure that He would take on the keenest workers, who themselves would be up and looking for work at that early hour.
• The Timescale: Notice how the employer repeatedly visits the market-place through the day. Scarcely has He returned to the vineyard when He realizes that more workmen are needed. He can see this at a glance. As He casts His eye over the workmen laboring in the field He can also see that they have no hope of bringing in the harvest without help. Either because they are too few for so great a harvest, or because they are too slow in their work. But whatever the reason He goes back to the market to look for more workers.
  He went out again at 9 am (third hour)
  He went out again at 12 am (sixth hour)
  He went out again at 3 pm (ninth hour)
  He went out again at 5 pm (eleventh hour)

Consider for a moment this worker's mentality. Who knows, in real life you may be represented by him.

• He undoubtedly is a late starter. We know this from the fact that he was not available all through the day, else he would have been employed by the Master earlier. So he is a late starter.
• He doesn't give up looking for work once he is made aware of the fact that an employer is out there repeatedly coming back to the market place looking for workers. Perhaps the news has finally gotten around to him: "There is still work to be had, starting at any time!" Go if you want a job.
• He is an extremely good worker once he gets started. It is doubtful if he would have been put first and paid so well if the Master didn't reckon he had done well: because the Master is no fool. He had agreed the first worker's wages. (verse 2) He also had a fixed policy to pay each man "whatsoever is right." (verse 4) So this man is getting a full day's wage because he worked well, albeit for only a short while.

Ponder the scene at that amazing payout.

Was the Master being unfair? I doubt it. He is in fact dealing out a generous wage: firstly because he is a generous employer and secondly, because this end-time worker is extremely industrious. He had accomplished in one hour what had taken others all day.

You and I have been called into the vineyard in the closing hours of earth's history - at the eleventh hour. This is that hour and you could be that 'eleventh-hour worker.' Think about it! The day will soon be spent and YaHuWaH is still looking for workers in His vineyard. Are you available for work? And if so, what is your attitude towards YaHuWaH 's work? The Savior told another parable about work. Here it is:

How do you measure up to this survey? Which brother are you like? You need to give that question serious thought.

• Unproductive Vines

  Isaiah 5:1	Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 2: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine press therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.
  Proverbs 24:30	I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31: And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
  Matthew 7:19	Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  
  
• Productive Vines

  Proverbs 31:15

  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.17: She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms... 27: She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband (Messiah) also, and he praiseth her.

  Note: Here is a picture of the industrious believer, not just of the perfect wife.

• Have I recognized the fact that not only is there work in YaHuWaH 's vineyard, but that I myself am a vine in the vineyard of the Most High?
• Am I neglecting my responsibilities? Have I started work yet? Or am I still sleeping?
• What kind of a worker am I when I eventually get started? Even after working all day has the person who started 11 hours later caught up with my performance?
• What kind of fruit am I producing - good or bad, sour grapes or sweet? Or maybe no grapes at all?
• Do I give the fruit back to YaHuWaH, or do I reject His every attempt to get His share of the harvest?