A Look at the Harvest

By ABWE Representative Jim West

Years ago during the Great Depression, a farmer's fields produced a bumper crop. He and his son moved their combine into the field and began to gather the grain. Suddenly the combine broke down, and the farmer discovered he needed a part. He rushed to the store only to learn that the part was unavailable. He searched in neighboring towns without success. In desperation, the family tried to harvest by hand. After days of backbreaking work they had not made a dent. With a broken heart he said, "I'm afraid we are going to lose this harvest."

The farmer's dilemma speaks to us of the situation facing the Christian church. Jesus told His disciples, "Look on the fields, they are already white unto harvest" (John 4:35). Then He made these statements:

• The harvest is plenteous;
• The laborers are few.

"The harvest is plenteous"

As we approach the 21st century, world population nears six billion. We can look at this vast number in various ways:

1. By Religion:

• 1 in every 5 persons is Muslim
• 1 in 8 is Hindu
• 1 in 10 is non religious
• 1 in 20 is Buddhist
• 2. By Ethnic Origin

The world contains about 24,000 people groups, each with its own language, culture and customs.

3. By language

Only 2,000 of the more than 6,500 spoken languages have the entire Bible; some languages have not a single portion.

"The laborers are few" WHY?

• Laziness. Proverbs 10:5 says, "He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." Are God's people "sleeping on the job?"
• Wrong priorities. Isaiah 9:3 tells us that joy in the Lord is like the joy that comes in harvest time. Many Christians don't experience joy because they are not involved in the harvest.
• Lack of planning. The preaching of the gospel produces results. But many churches don't plan for it, so they don't experience harvest. Proverbs 6:6-8 advises planning ahead.
• Following worldly pursuits. In I Corinthians 15:34 Paul exhorted, "I want you to wake up to righteousness and stop sinning because many do not have the knowledge of God, shame on you." It is shameful that the things of this world choke our passion for winning people to Christ.
• Pluralism. Even professing Christians embrace the idea: "Everyone has his own religion, I shouldn't try to force my beliefs on anyone." Pluralism says no one is really lost.

Harvesting is team work

No individual, no single church, no one mission board is capable of completing so large a task. Bible-believing churches and mission agencies need to pool resources and energies. Paul says we are co-laborers together with God. What does this mean?

• A division of responsibility. God doesn't ask any of us to do the task alone. Paul wrote, "Some plant and some water, but God gives the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
• No room for jealousy. When someone makes a profession of faith, we all rejoice, even though we may not have had a direct part.
• Dependency on those who have gone before. Even when we may be the one leading someone to Christ, the Bible, which we use, is the work of others who have gone before.

I learned that more clearly through a man named Maurice Caughens whom I met while I was a missionary in England. In his school days Maurice learned reverence for God, but for many years he gave no thought to Him. At 36 he decided to find a wife. Since he is shy, Maurice contacted a dating agency and asked for a pen pal from another country. They suggested Fraley, a Filipina, living in the United Arab Emirates. In her first letter Fraley wrote that she was a Christian and asked if they could read the same Bible verses daily. This sounded strange, but Maurice bought a Bible and began reading it. A man in his office said he was a born-again Christian and invited Maurice to church. Maurice was impressed with the simplicity of the Word of God, but the church was too far away. Then he remembered the newsletter delivered to his door from a church only a mile away. One Sunday he drove to our church. An usher greeted him and introduced him to people. After I preached Maurice said, "I'll be back." He did return. The next week Maurice accepted the Lord. Driving home I said, "Thank you, Lord, for letting me lead Maurice to Christ." Suddenly the Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Wait a minute, Jim, don't take all the credit. Someone gave him initial knowledge about God. Fraley got him to read the Bible. A co-worker invited him to church. Mike took the gospel newsletter to Maurice's door every month for two years. People at Tyndale Baptist Church welcomed him and prayed for him. Your supporting churches pray that you will have a harvest of souls in England. You only had the joy of gathering in the grain."

The reward of the harvest

Jesus said, "He that reapeth receiveth wages" (John 4:36). The greatest reward in the Christian life is seeing someone brought to everlasting life. No amount of money, no pleasure in life can equal the joy of helping bring a person to the Lord Jesus Christ.

How will you help to reap the harvest?

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