The Harvest Is Plentiful

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.'"

Matthew 9:37

 

I live in a farming community just on the outskirts of the capital city. It is the end of August and so it is now the start of the harvest season. As one drives along the farm roads in my area, one will see large fields of canola, hay, barley or wheat. The hay has already been cut, dried, raked and recently rolled into large bales. The harvest has begun!

The Bible says the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Do we ever consider how many people in our neighbourhood do not know God? What about the people at our work place? How many souls there are lost and searching for answers? Do we grieve over how many people in our town or city are crying out for help? The amount of people in need of a Saviour are staggering, but the number of workers in comparison are so very few.

Even our churches tend to be more inward than outward. Yes, we give to a handful of missionaries, but what about our own community? How many outreaches is our church involved in? Are the church services focused on reaching the unsaved? Or are the services primarily for our own entertainment and enjoyment? Would a newcomer even get noticed and invited to someone's house for dinner after the service? Or do we think a shake of the hand is enough? Is our focus in doing God's work really about bringing people to Christ? Or is it about keeping God's people happy?

I find that even in children's ministries, our primary focus is on the children of the Christian families that attend the church. Therefore, we are raising an upcoming generation that will also be complacent to God's greatest desire: to see every breathing soul accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and be a part of His beautiful Kingdom. Wouldn't it be wonderful see children bringing other children to Christ in great numbers? Then see those children lead the rest of their families to God?

I believe it is the heart of God to grieve over every person we meet that does not know God and have an unquenchable desire to see each one of them come to the saving knowledge and love of Christ. If we do, the workers will increase and more lives will be saved.