Lying on my garage work bench are several pairs of gloves. There are large gloves (for me), and small gloves (for my wife), heavy leather gloves (for pruning thorny bushes or palm branches), and light-weight gloves for general garden work. All of these gloves lie idle and useless on my work bench awaiting hands. They have potential for being essential equipment to accomplish a variety of tasks, but they cannot function unless they have the power and direction of hands.
Our text, Matthew 20:6, is part of a parable told by Jesus, and it describes the owner of a vineyard seeking laborers to harvest his grapes. Some of the laborers came early in the morning while others came at midmorning and others close to noon. The vineyard of course represents the world field ready for harvest; the early laborers represent those in the dawn of the Christian church who carried the gospel message to the world; those who came later represent those who labored during the 1260 years of persecution and thereafter in the reformation; those who came at eleven o'clock represent the members of the remnant church who labor in the last days to reap the final harvest. The owner of the vineyard knew that the work could not be finished before dark without additional workers, and he was surprised that there was a group of capable workers standing idle. These workers were perfectly willing to work, but had not been hired; they needed employment and direction. The landowner immediately said to them, "Go and work in my vineyard" (Matt. 20:7). The idle workers accepted the commission and were subsequently rewarded for their labors equally with those who preceded them.
God is looking for laborers in the eleventh hour of earth's history. Some of the work will be difficult and arduous requiring workers with great stamina and dedication, perhaps in an isolated and dangerous mission field; they will be serving on the front lines of battle with paganism and idolatry. Other workers with special skills such as medicine, teaching, or public evangelism will be required. Some will work in crowded cities and others in lonely isolation. There will be a place for every individual in the Lord's vineyard.
The Lord needs all kinds of gloves to do His work, gloves with different capabilities and talents, gloves for the rigors of the front line trenches and gloves for behind the lines tender loving care. No matter what our abilities, God has a place for us in His vineyard. The question is, in this eleventh hour should we be idle or are we willing to be God's gloves?
