DCLM Higher Everyday 1 May 2026 — Good Work
Topic: Good Work
Bible Reading: Matthew 20:1-13 (KJV)
1. For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
3. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4. And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7. They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12. Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
MEMORY VERSE: “And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day” (Matthew 20:11, 12).
Message
In our text, there was no violent reaction between the workers and the employer of labour. Often labour agitations have led to violent clashes, sometimes resulting in injuries and deaths. On May 4, 1886, labour unions organized a strike in Chicago, USA, to protest police brutality and advocated eight-hour workday. It was initially a peaceful rally at Haymarket Square, attended by about 3000 workers. The police arrived to disperse the crowd but a bomb exploded, killing some officers. The police responded violently with gunfire, causing multiple deaths and injuries among the protesters. Some drastic consequences followed, leading to increased tensions between labour unions and employers as well as government crackdowns on labour activism.
Friend, we must be cautious about protests, whether organised at workplace or in the school. School protests have often ended up badly. Conflicts are not resolved through violent protests but by dialogue. Our role as Christians is to work to earn our living peacefully and to pray for those in authority to rule with the fear of God and the interest of the masses at heart.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Oh God! Let there be peace between workers and employers.
CHALLENGE
Your prayers are needed for workers and employers.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
