What is an inheritance? First of all, it must be something of value or no one would care to take possession. An inheritance gives us rights to the possession when the original possessor transfers those rights.
If the inheritor cannot access the inheritance and receive benefit from it, then it truly does not function as an inheritance.
In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus spoke:
33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country.
34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.
35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’
39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
The value of the vineyard is its production of fruit and FATHER expects a harvest as a return on HIS investment. The farmers were to be rewarded for their labor but it did not include the rightful portion due to the landowner who owned the land, the hedge, the winepress, and the tower. The farmers’ ability to produce was based solely on what the landowner provided.
Why would the husbandmen beat, kill, and stone the servants as well as kill the inheritor if the vineyard produced no fruit? They wouldn’t. As a matter of fact, they would cease tending a non-producing vineyard. They would abandon a fruitless endeavor.
What would be the incentive for an inheritance if there was no expectation of fruitfulness in the near future? The inheritors might pass away before the inheritance could be realized and enjoyed. The inheritance is most relevant if it has the potential for immediate results.
This parable was applicable to those in authority:
45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
They were concerned in maintaining their status and income rather than allowing the fruitfulness to spread forth to those who embraced the true inheritance. What would happen if people realized that the Glory could be enjoyed inside each individual rather than the temple and its infrastructure? The need for professionals would be eliminated and they would lose their power over the people.
Was the vineyard meant to glorify and honor its owner with its fruitfulness? Yes, the laborers were to receive a fair portion of the fruit but certainly not all of it in order to consume it upon themselves.
What assets does the Kingdom have that the Sons and Daughters could put to use right now in order to further the Kingdom? Didn’t Jesus give us the answer to this question when He spoke the following in John chapter 14:
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Isn’t the power and authority given by FATHER central to the riches of HIS Kingdom? The works of Jesus was the good fruit produced on behalf of His FATHER. Jesus referred to Himself as the vine which gives life to the branches “who” produce the fruit as He spoke in John 15:
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Let us not delay the use of our inheritance by diverting our focus to future events or dates. People are hurting now and are in need of FATHER’S intervention. HE will use those of us who are fully committed to walking in Agape Love and ministering life to those in darkness in the here and now. All who constantly emphasize the future will simply be observers of the present.