Matt 20:6-7-At five o'clock he went back and found still others standing around. He said, 'Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?' "They said, 'Because no one hired us.'

 The District Attorney's office in Portland, Oregon, reports "large numbers of juveniles between the ages of 12-17 years old were loitering in and around the downtown business district during both daytime and nighttime hours, and engaging in aberrant behavior that essentially prevented law abiding citizens from using these areas, leading to an increase in law enforcement calls for service. The Neighborhood DA brought together representatives of the juvenile court and the juvenile social service agencies along with the police to determine how to reduce the large numbers of juveniles loitering in the downtown area. The goal was to get the juveniles back into school or back into a home environment using both truancy and curfew laws. The Neighborhood DA pulled together representatives from the community to work with police, juvenile court counselors, and juvenile social service representatives to conduct both truancy and curfew missions. The purpose of each mission was to pick up juveniles who were violating either truancy or curfew laws and bring them to be interviewed by a juvenile court counselor and by a juvenile social service representative. Community members were responsible for contacting parents or guardians of the juvenile. These missions led to a reduction in the number of juveniles loitering in the downtown area, particularly the parks, and a reduction in the juvenile crime rate, both as offenders and as victims in the downtown area."

There is something about loitering that creates an environment of discomfort to all those are exposed thereto, particularly to one who is productive-minded, conscientious, and industrious.  As we noted in the aforementioned piece that loitering prevented law abiding citizens from using certain areas of the downtown.  In other words, it could be said that loitering is the cause of things and areas of life declining.  It is proven that loitering is very much tied to crime, rape, robbery, and the list of evils go on and on.  In order to rid an area of crime, etc., the area must be rid of non-productive individuals just "standing around doing nothing."

I find it very interesting that this kind of behavior is very unacceptable in our social communities, but when it comes to our spiritual communities, "doing nothing" is entirely acceptable.  One can observe in any given spiritual house individuals who just come, sit, listen, participate to some varying degree, only to leave with no responsibility to that house until they again return.  Yes, non-productive, uninvolved, non-participatory, and never giving a second thought as to how the church is moving on, or who these "unidentified" beings are responsible for making the programs of the church work effectively.  All that they know (or care about) is that it is being done, but not by them, because they are too busily engaged in more "important" things of life.

It is very clear from our scriptural reference that great disgust was in the landowner who was out and about looking for workers.  Where did he start?  With those who were just "standing around doing nothing."  He hired them, connected them to others who were working, and put before them role models to follow-workers! 

Why are laborers so difficult to come by?  If you are reading this, may I ask you, "why are you not involved?  Why are you not working?"  You may say, "I have a job."  But you need to understand that working at your place of employment or in or from your home is not the work that God has ultimately given you to do, nor is it the one which He is going to give pay for.  When you get a paycheck from work, you have already been paid for what you have done.  Heaven awaits to pay those who are faithfully serving in His work and who will rejoice in hearing Him say, "well done." 

I challenge you, my friend, to become employed in God's eternal work.  For this is the command that He left on record for each one of us to do-"put (my gift) to work until I (return)."  The results recorded in the Gospels for those who failed to heed were exceedingly painful.  "Standing around doing nothing" with His deposit invested was ill-advised.  Therefore, we may assuredly know and understand that, God has given us something that He wants us "work" in behalf of His Kingdom.  May we not disappoint Him.