Harvest!

Harvest!

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:37‭-‬38 KJV

Context and Charge:

It is important to know the mind of God on any matter, so I do not labour amiss. There is no point being busy in any work for which God has no regard or reward. This verse follows the clear message of the focus of the kingdom, as we see Jesus teaching, preaching and healing. These were the things He had come to do on earth, and He expects that we all who claim to his children also do the same. The Great Commission, as laid down by Jesus, also summarises these expectations. I must therefore settle down and decide that I want to be busy at that which God is blessing. At that time, Jesus saw the crowd of people following Him, and He understood the big challenge: not too many willing labourers. We all want to lead or control, but too many people want to labour. 

Unfortunately, it is labour for the harvest that counts. It is not just labour just for show; it has to be labour in pursuit of the waiting harvest. Jesus has already established that the harvest is plenty; He prepares the ground to receive the seed of the Word, and provides all the nutrients the seed needs to thrive, but then, when the harvest comes, there are not too many willing labourers. We love to be audible and visible, and we love the titles and recognition, but we forget that what God blesses isn't leadership for its own sake, but a life that labours, no matter what title s/he is known by. Once the harvest is ready, only those who understand the work required involved will be called to work. Am I a labourer that God can count on in these times? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

These verses are addressed to disciples, not the crowd that was following Him. The expectations of Jesus from the crowd are fundamentally different from those for disciples. We serve the Lord of the harvest, and He alone knows the conditions of the field, and the state of the harvest. He knows the hearts of men and who is ready to receive the seed, which is the Word of God. He is the One who knows which field is ready for harvest, and which one needs more work. Jesus wants me to pray that God will send labourers; it would mean that I understand what this entails, and I am ready to be called on at anytime to labour to bring in the harvest. May my life's decisions not lead to waste. May God find me a vessel he can use for labour in these end times. God's time of favour is here.