Matthew 21:28-31a But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?

Yesterday as I left off with the warning that you will be tested, it occurred to me that one could think that God’s testing of your work would come at the end of days. I would like to focus on how God tests us, and see the distinction between test and tempt.

Both of these sons were asked to go and work in the Father’s vineyard. The one that said no at first I can see as an example of myself in ministry. The flesh will quite often resist obeying God. It is an immature whining. “Do I have too?” Very often a real move of God is met with a resistance in the flesh.

This testing is one of obedience of faith. Satan has no wish for you to obey God because that never ends well for him. How long this reluctance lasts in this son is dependent upon the son’s willingness to ignore his own feelings on a matter and turn to do that which is asked of him. It is a test of character.

What of the son that said yes? I believe he went out from the presence of the father because I did not hear, “Why are you just standing there?” Where did he go? Is not the whole world our Father’s vineyard? He was willing and went but once in the vineyard what did he do? Not the will of the father. So what did that son do?

The second son did what satisfied him, what he was willing to do in his own sight. Just because you are in the Father’s vineyard and doing what is easy and pleasing in your opinion does not mean you are doing the will of the Father.