The 11th Hour

There is a parable found in the book of Matthew about vineyard workers. These vineyard workers were hired in the eleventh hour by the laborer and received the same compensation of the other workers who had been hired for the full day. I could speak on receiving the full compensation for little work, but let’s focus on when they were hired. The 11^th hour. The workers were hired in what we would call the last minute. Others had already been working hard for the day and here come these men in the last minute to do the same work. No one had asked them to work earlier in the day. The laborer found them standing idle and told them go to the vineyard.



It’s not so much about them getting the same reward as those working for a full day, it’s about them getting called to work at the last minute and still getting the work done and being rewarded. It’s in the opportunity. The lesson is in them having the opportunity to work.

Some of us may have been “idle” the entire year. Now we are in November, the 11^th hour. What looked like idleness was preparation for the opportunity to work. God is calling you now. He has sent you to the vineyard in the 11^th hour to complete a work. A work that you will be rewarded for. It doesn’t matter who started before you, who worked longer at it than you, or if they are mad about you starting right now. God is giving you the opportunity right now to complete or even start the assignment.

Many of the blogs this year talked about a preparation season. You have been prepared. You sat in silence. You watched others around you. You prayed without ceasing. Many have pushed you to start, but it wasn’t time. God didn’t ask you to work when the others were called. He’s calling you in your own timing.

For those of you who have been discouraged this year, asking the questions Why? Why is this not working? Why am I not moving? When is it my time? Trust in God’s perfect timing. It’s the 11^th hour for many of you. The time is now. November 1, 2022, marks the beginning for many reading this blog today. There is power in the 11^th hour. There is purpose in the 11^th hour. There is still reward for the 11^th hour.

I encourage you to pray to God. Hear His voice. If He’s calling you right now, answer. Just like the vineyard workers who were sent to work in the 11^th hour, you can start, work hard, and still get your reward.