January 7, 2021 — The Crop Won’t Harvest Itself

“Growing up on the wheat farm,” Stan began one morning, “harvest time was always exciting.”

“In what way?” I asked.

“Well,” Stan replied, “it was the culmination of a lot of hard work.  The fields had been prepared for planting, the seeds were planted, hopefully there was enough rain and nutrient for those seeds to sprout, grow and mature.”

“Then,” he continued, “when the crop was ready to be harvested, it was time for more hard work.”

“Long days?” I asked.

“You’ve got that right,” Stan said.  “Very early mornings and long hot days.  In the morning, my dad would wake me up and say something like, ‘Time to get up; the crop is not going to harvest itself!’”

Continuing, he added, “Although my dad didn’t intend for what he said to have any spiritual significance, what he said was kind of like what Jesus said about harvesting for the Kingdom.”

“In what way?” I asked.

“Jesus put it in terms of an abundant harvest being ready, but there were not enough workers,” Stan replied.

He then added, “To me, that’s the same thing as if I would have stayed in bed rather than getting up to help my dad with the wheat harvest.  He wanted my help as an additional worker to go out into the field.”

“If you didn’t get up and go help,” I replied, “the crop may not have been harvested.”

“That’s right,” Stan said, “I needed to go work in the field.  Same thing today with the church.  There is a countless number of people who aren’t believers.  As well, there are lots of believers who aren’t disciples.”

“Those people, the non-believers and the non-disciple believers,” Stan continued, “are the harvest that is waiting for the workers.”

Concluding, he added, “That crop is not going to harvest itself.  Workers are needed.  Time to get up and go into the fields!”

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The harvest in plentiful, but the workers are few.  Matthew 9:37.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Luke 10:2.

Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.  How then shall they call upon 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 the preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  Romans 10:13 – 15.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, for those who went out of their way to “harvest” me so that I have the assurance of spending eternity with you when it’s time.  Thank you, too, that I am allowed to participate in the “harvest” of knowing you and Jesus ever more deeply on this side of eternity.  I confess that too often I choose not to be involved in helping others to be harvested for your kingdom.  I do that because I choose to do what I want to do apart from you.  Please forgive me.  And please help me in following your lead in being involved in your harvest just as you want.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

01Think on this:  Have you been “harvested” so that you have the assurance of salvation?  If not, why?  If you do have that assurance, are you involved in bringing the Good News of the Kingdom to others who are part of the harvest yet to occur?  If not, why?  If you are part of that harvest, do you thank God for allowing you to be a part of what He is doing for His Kingdom?  If you are not part of the harvest, would you like to be?  If so, do you know how that can happen?