Laboring and Sacrificing for Christ

In Matthew 19:16-30 we read about the young rich man who came to the Lord asking what he needed to do to gain eternal life. Christ told him he needed to take of his riches and give to the poor, and to follow Him. This young man left the Lord being grieved about giving away his great possessions. His worldly riches were a deterrent from being a truly devoted follower of Christ. The Lord went on to promise that those who sacrifice all for His sake, will be greatly blessed and receive the blessing of eternal life.

As I think about it I find that it can be a great challenge to not be as this young man was. It is natural to want the great comforts and luxuries of life, and it isn’t easy to sacrifice those things. The Savior basically tells Peter that those who are willing to sacrifice all they have, for Him, will have the greatest of blessings. One of the ways I can work to put the Lord first is by remembering the covenants I have made. In the waters of baptism I promised to follow Him. Reminding myself often of this should be motivation enough to follow the Savior. Another way I think will help to put the Lord first is by looking for and acknowledging the way He has blessed me. Especially as I make sacrifices, in my efforts to be a true disciple of Christ, it is important for me to see the blessings that come because of it. I may have to give up some of the luxuries of life, but I do have the promise from the Lord that the blessings will be great for doing so.

In Matthew 20:1-16 we find the parable of the laborers. Here, the master of the vineyard has gone to find workers, and we read about who worked when and how much they got paid. Here is a quick breakdown of that. 

Laborers hired early in the morning (6 am), for a penny for the day, worked for 12 hours, got paid the penny agreed upon.

Laborers hired 3 hours later (9 am), for what was right, worked for 9 hours, got paid a penny.

Laborers hired 9 hours after the first (3 pm), for what was right, worked 3 hours, got paid a penny.

Laborers hired 11 hours after the first (5 pm), for what was right, worked 1 hour, got paid a penny.

This parable teaches a great lesson that everyone has the right to the same blessings of covenants and the Atonement. It doesn’t matter how long you have labored for the Lord, just that you are willing and put in the work. This is a concept that can bring much comfort to those who are converts to the church, or to those who lose their way. It doesn’t matter to the Lord that you haven’t had the gospel all along the way. What He wants is for you to make the commitment to follow Him, then to do it. It may not seem fair that those who haven’t followed Christ their whole lives should have the same blessings as those who have. There is fairness in it though. All the Lord asks is for a willing heart and for a person to give all they have to Him. The expectation is the same, no matter who you are. Because the expectation is the same, the blessing is the same. All who choose to make Christ a part of their life, and labor on His behalf, will have the same blessings available to them by making covenants through ordinances, and by applying the Atonement in their life. All devoted followers of Christ will receive the blessing of eternal life. The Lord is fair, and just, and all those who are faithful will receive the blessings.

I love this excerpt from an article by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It says it all. The Lord loves us. He wants us all back. He is waiting for us whenever it is we go to Him. The blessings are ours if we but faithfully follow Him. In reference to the parable of the laborers Elder Holland says,

"This parable - like all parables- is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God's goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don't expect it and often feel they don't deserve it.

. . . However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ's Atonement shines.

. . . There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning.

. . . His concern is for the faith at which you finally arrive, not the hour of the day in which you got there.

So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven't made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time." ("The Laborers in the Vineyard," Ensign, May 2012)