The Parable of the Two Sons
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'
'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?
'The first,' they answered.
Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.'
Reference: Matthew 21:28-32
The Reluctant Helper
A father asked both of his sons to help in the family business on an unusually busy day, hoping they would support him during a demanding schedule. The first son reacted with frustration and refused immediately, feeling overwhelmed by everything else on his mind. Later he reconsidered, recognizing how much his father relied on him, and he chose to go in and work diligently until the tasks were completed. The second son responded politely and promised to help, yet never arrived because he found other activities more appealing and assumed his words were enough.
The father appreciated the son who acted rather than the one who only agreed verbally, because he saw the sincerity reflected in the follow through. Jesus teaches that obedience is not demonstrated through statements or intentions but through choices that align with what is right. Even a reluctant beginning can become meaningful when a person turns toward faithful action. Promises without action hold little value compared to genuine transformation.