I recently heard a message about laborers shared by a good friend of mine, David Wade. He is a former missionary to the country of Moldova, and he shared a wonderful message on the importance of laboring for the Lord. With his permission, I am sharing some of his message and what I gleaned from it.
Christians have an important job to do. Passivity is not a characteristic of a believer’s faith; we’ve been called by Jesus to labor for the Lord. So, what does it mean to labor, and why is it so important in the life of a Christian?
1) We labor for a bountiful harvest.
- In Matthew 9:37, Jesus states, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” What He is telling His disciples is that we work to harvest lost souls. The world is full of people who need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there are more laborers (Christians) needed to reach these individuals. No one knew this better than our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
- Jesus was a very hard worker. Matthew 9:35 states, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” He was busy doing His Father’s work, and He stated in John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” As followers of Christ, we, too, must share the gospel while we can (while it is “day”) because soon Christ will return and take His church home. At that moment (“night”), our time to work for Him will be finished. And frankly, all things point to this event happening relatively soon.
- Jesus also understood that laboring for God required sacrifice. Hebrews 12:2 states that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the example we are to follow in every aspect of our service to God. Jesus obeyed His heavenly Father even when it led Him to the cross. He focused on the “joy to come” on the other side of serving His Father. The work Jesus did for His Father was completed at Calvary where His death and shedding of blood on an old rugged cross purchased our salvation. The “joy that was to come” was His resurrection 3 days later, and His victory over death and sin! His work for God was finished.
- We must also follow Christ’s example in serving God. In Matthew 10:38, Jesus said, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” While we do not have to fear crucifixion, we may suffer in our service to God in other ways. It may be persecution from the world; it may be loved ones denouncing our faith; it may be denying ourselves from something in order to serve God. Like Jesus, we must focus on our “joy to come”, when we see our Saviour face to face… the moment our faith becomes sight!
2) What is the harvest for which we labor?
- We work for a local harvest – Jesus went to cities, villages, and synagogues that were in His immediate surroundings (Israel). Following in His footsteps, we need to be witnesses for Him in our own communities, workplaces, family gatherings, etc. Perhaps that sounds a bit daunting. (I know it did for me!) It’s important to remember that Jesus doesn’t necessarily ask you to be a preacher or go to a foreign field. Instead we are just asked to share the gospel, which means tell others what Jesus has done for you! What do you know to be true about Jesus? Your testimony is powerful! Imagine being the witness to an accident, and then being asked to go to court. You aren’t asked to be a lawyer; you are asked to share what happened. It’s the same with witnessing. Just tell others what Jesus did for you! He loved you; He wanted you; He died for you, and He’s coming back for you!! You were part of the harvest once; now you have become a laborer! With God, you can do this!
- We work for a faraway harvest – Jesus gave us a mandate. He said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). We need a world vision/burden to reach souls for Jesus. We can do that in a variety of ways. Some actually go to foreign lands as missionaries to share the gospel. Others give financially to support missions, while others are faithful as prayer warriors for those serving away from home. Missionaries like David Livingston (Africa), William Carey (India), and Jim Elliott (Ecuador) are well known for their missionary work, which they faithfully continued until their deaths.
3) Why we labor
- There is a forgotten harvest – Jesus reminds us of this in John 4:34-35. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” We need to realize the urgency of laboring for the Lord. There is a world of people who are lost and headed to an eternity without Christ if someone doesn’t tell them about Jesus. They must know how they can have their sins forgiven and receive the promise of eternal life in heaven with God. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed for any of us. We must be faithful to work today!
- There is a good harvest – The Lord desires that all would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9), and we should share that desire for all to be saved. No one is left out; the harvest is for everyone. As laborers for God, we can reach out to anyone with the gospel, and know they can be saved. Sadly, “the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few” (Matt. 9:37), but the few must be willing to give themselves to the task of sowing or watering or even reaping the seeds of salvation to the world, and encouraging others to join in the work. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour” (1 Corinthains 3:8).
4) The characteristics of the spiritual laborer
- Empowered by God – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
- Shines for the Lord – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
- Steadfast in his/her service – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58
- Committing to the work – “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24
Take up thy cross and follow me, I heard my Master say;
I gave me life to ransom thee, surrender your all today.
Wherever He leads I’ll go, wherever He leads I’ll go,
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so, wherever He leads I’ll go.
(from “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go” by B.B. McKinney)
Don’t let Satan say tell you that you can’t serve the Lord due to age, lack of resources, inexperience, etc. Jesus told each of us to let our lights shine for Him!
“Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.” – Psalm 104:23
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4 types of bones:
- Wishbone – the person wishes someone else would do the work.
- Jawbone – the person talks about doing, but never does the work
- Knucklebone – the person who criticizes the work of others
- Backbone – the person who does the work to which he/she is called
Which are you?