Remember when Jesus prayed for workers because the harvest was plentiful? The lack of workers in the kingdom is an age old problem. Specifically, the church suffers when all hands are not on deck. Proverbs 10:5 ESV says, “He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” This certainly has spiritual implications too. If we are lazy in the field we will be lazy in “God’s Field.” How can we gather up people who are ripe for the harvest if we don’t work?
To quote a dear church member, “We will only rise to the lowest level of expectations.” In other words, if we expect little of each other, nobody will rise beyond those lowest expectations. Who in their right mind will wear themselves out if nobody else is sharing the work load? This is why Jesus expected much out of his disciples. He didn’t give them the best tools to work with and he certainly didn’t line their pockets with money. But he expected them to work, and to work hard!
Paul, when addressing Christian households, says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward” (Colossians 3:23, 24). This is very much in line with what Jesus said about storing up treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves cannot break in and steal. We need to always set the bar high and gather while the harvest is ready. We should be talking to everyone we know about Jesus and gathering them in!