When we read this verse, we may be inclined to think of servants of the Lord who serve Him in distant lands. These words are undoubtedly also addressed to such people, but we should not limit them to them. The Lord Jesus means all of us; He means you, He means me.
The Lord’s harvest fields are not only in Africa, South America, or Asia; they are also in Europe, Switzerland, North America, and Germany. When it comes to cooperation, we don’t want to think so much about the brothers and sisters who serve the Lord full-time, but we want to think about ourselves first. Everyone can be a co-worker in the kingdom of God. Everyone can be a laborer in the Lord’s harvest.
The reason for the Lord Jesus’ words to His disciples is significant: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Mt. 9:36). This speaks to us. We live in countries where people are indifferent and jaded. They run after countless things and no longer have time for God. Many Christians see this and say: “Evangelism is not needed. Harvest for God is impossible.” The consequence of this is resignation and inactivity.
If we judge things in this way, we should ask ourselves with what eyes the Lord sees these people. We can be assured that He is still deeply moved by the people of our day. And He wants us to see people with His eyes. They are like sheep without a shepherd. That is as true today as it was then.
Our language should, therefore, be different. We can say: “Evangelism is more important today than ever because people are suffocating in their indifference and losing themselves in disorientation.” People are looking for firm values. Why else do you think Eastern religions, occultism, spiritualism, and the like are on the rise in Western Europe?
On another occasion, the Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (Jn. 4:35). Should it be different today? Should the fields no longer be white for harvest? What we need is to look in the right direction. Like the disciples back then, we need to lift up our eyes in order to see correctly.
It is from this perspective that we now want to look at the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples. I would like to draw attention to three points:
- The harvest is plentiful or great.
- The Lord of the harvest is not just any man.
- The Lord wants our cooperation because there are only a few workers.
The Harvest
First of all, the Lord Jesus states that the harvest is plentiful. It is good for us to keep thinking about this. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is the express will of God. No one should perish. Every person is valuable in God’s eyes because every person has an immortal soul and is also a creature of God. It is, unfortunately, true that not everyone comes. But it does not change the fact that God offers every person His salvation.
If the harvest is plentiful or great, this means that there is much work to be done. Work in God’s harvest is not a leisurely stroll but also means effort and exertion. Perseverance and energy are also required to work for the Lord.
Do we have our eyes open for the work of the Lord, for the great harvest? How often do we occupy ourselves with trivial matters and lose sight of the Lord’s harvest? This is what happened to the disciples once. When many people came to hear the Lord Jesus, and it was evening, they wanted to send the crowds away so that they could buy something to eat. That was as far as their thoughts went. Before the work had really begun, the disciples wanted to stop. How differently the Lord Jesus acted. He did not send the people away but gave them what they needed.
The Lord of the Harvest
Secondly, the Lord Jesus makes it clear to His disciples who the Lord of the harvest is. It is not just any man, but He Himself. This is a great comfort and encouragement for us. Although we are responsible for what we do and don’t do, we are not ultimately responsible for the success of our work. We should do what we are told to do. We can confidently leave everything else to Him. In a slightly different context, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” Incidentally, we also see here that we have nothing to be proud of in our work.
We already find this idea in the Old Testament: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isa. 55:11). This is the encouraging promise of the Lord of the harvest.
As Lord of the harvest, however, the Lord Jesus not only provides the blessing, but He also divides up the work. He deploys His harvesters correctly, the right man in the right place. He does not overburden us and does not overload us. He distributes the work according to the strengths and abilities of each individual. We do not have to find our own work, but we are allowed to work according to His instructions. If every harvester were to work according to his own ideas, there would be chaos. That is why dependence on Him is necessary. We receive the necessary instructions in prayer. That is why every work for the Lord is preceded by prayer.
Our Cooperation
Thirdly, the Lord Jesus clearly shows the disciples that our cooperation is desired. If we ask ourselves whether the Lord is dependent on our cooperation, the answer is: no. If we ask ourselves whether He wants our cooperation, the answer is: yes.
Now, it becomes very concrete and personal. Now, it is our turn. Do we want to be co-workers or not? God wants to make His concern ours. He wants to act through us. He wants us to become active. On the one hand, this is a great responsibility, but on the other hand, it is also a great challenge.
Born-again Christians can be divided into two groups. The larger group consists of those who rejoice in their salvation and are content with it. Work in the Lord’s harvest is not required, in their opinion. The smaller group consists of the few laborers of whom the Lord speaks. Which group do we belong to? Perhaps we regret that so few people come to us, but have we ever thought of going to them? Once again, everyone can and should work together. It starts with the children at school, then in teaching, at university, at work, at home, during leisure time, when going for a walk, on vacation, when traveling, in a hospital, in a retirement home… Everyone knows for themselves where they can be a witness for the Lord.
You say: “I can’t talk”? You don’t need to. Many of the Lord’s workers can’t. But isn’t our behavior a testimony? Many people have come to faith through the quiet behavior of a Christian.
Much to do – but only a few workers. That is the title of these thoughts. We surely all understand what this means. There is no doubt that much more could be said on this subject, but let us remember the three points that the Lord wanted to lay on our hearts:
- The work is plentiful or great.
- He is the Lord of the harvest, who blesses and divides the work.
- He is the one who wants us to be His workers.
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