The Harvest is Plentiful, but the Laborers are Few

I love to read about communities that come together to help a neighboring farmer in need during harvest time.  You may have seen pictures of combines plowing row upon row, working together to harvest a field in record time.

Did you know that God has a field to be harvested also and is looking for laborers? There are souls ready to hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God but how will they hear if no one tells them? (Romans 10:14).  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 9:37-38 “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” 

This verse in Matthew doesn’t say the need is to pray for a ripe crop but to pray for laborers to go out and bring in the harvest.  How do we become good laborers?  Just as farmers prepare for the harvest, there are steps that we can take to prepare also.  

First, the farmer prepares by watching the crop until it is mature and ready for harvest.  For us, we can learn how to witness and share our faith by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and discerning when to say something and how to say it.  Everyone is different and in different seasons of their lives.   1 Cor.3:6  says ” I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”   When we share the gospel with others, we are planting a seed, and others may water and harvest it, but it is God that makes it grow.

The farmer also prepares by getting their equipment ready, not on the day of the harvest, but beforehand. We need to maintain our walk with God by having daily time with Him and listening to His voice.  He will then direct and guide us to the hearts that He has prepared. 

May we be alert and aware that there is a harvest field waiting for us and make it our prayer each day “Here am I, send me.” Isaiah 6:8b.