Trust and Faith · Evangelism and Mission · Commitment and Service

The Harvest Is Plentiful, but… Are There No Trained Workers?

5 min read, approximately

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38)

Today there are countless fields of study: architecture, administration, law, engineering, medicine, mining, military science, physics, sports, economics, biology, the arts, anthropology, library science, and so on. The people in these fields, like you and me, face problems and circumstances. They are part of the harvest and need Christ; they too need to acknowledge that glory and honor belong to Jesus (Philippians 2:10). But how can we bring the message of salvation to these people if we do not study? What a dilemma: while some take a spiritual nap and do not study, others are criticized because they have chosen to study to improve themselves and become the Lord’s instruments among those people. For example, I study medicine to help society and use this as a way to reach my fellow doctors and patients for the Lord. So if you want to train yourself to be a little more useful and also reach more souls for Christ, please keep these points in mind: \1. God has placed the desire to study in you—act on it! Growth requires effort, so make that idea a reality!

“for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

. Do not wait for the Lord to call you a wicked and negligent servant:

“The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.” (Proverbs 21:25-26)

\2. Even if it seems complicated, keep moving forward, because God goes with you. Take courage! Do not give up! Rely on the Lord’s promises and press toward the goal, because God has given you the ability!

“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses. From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.” (Joshua 1:3-4)

\3. Move forward and pay no attention to the Sanballats, Tobiahs, or Geshems! There are always Sanballats trying to discourage you so that you abandon your goal… But remember, Christ goes with you. Do not lose focus!

“And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good [work]. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.” (Nehemiah 2:18-20)

\4. Be calm, because there is always a purpose behind everything you go through. Do not give room to anger or rage; instead, let these experiences shape you, help you grow, and make you an instrument useful for every good work.

“And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Take courage! Do not dwell so much on the Sanballats, Tobiahs, or Geshems! God has given you the ability to dream (Acts 2:17), innovate (Isaiah 54:2), make a plan (Proverbs 16:9), and carry it out (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Philippians 4:13). The Lord’s work certainly needs what you have studied, are studying, or plan to study (2 Chronicles 26:15; Deuteronomy 1:13; Exodus 28:3; Exodus 35:25-26;), and of course, it is needed to reach that plentiful harvest!

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook