HOW TO BECOME A HARVESTER

Spreading God's Word Every Day and Everywhere

I was recently downtown, waiting for a friend who had dashed into a store, when I noticed a group at the end of the block distributing flyers. Perhaps you have also seen people doing something similar. They spoke enthusiastically about Christ, handing out flyers and inviting people to their church.

I did not go closer to see the details of what they were doing, but I was struck by their sincerity and enthusiasm for God. Despite being rejected by many people, they kept at it. Some of them even had their children and babies with them.

That got me thinking: How can we share the Gospel with those around us?

We might not stand at the corner of a road distributing flyers, but surely there are other ways to share our love for God with the people we meet every day.

In Matthew 9, we meet Jesus looking at the crowds that had gathered around Him. Seeing them, He said to His disciples:

“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”Matthew 9:37–38, KJV

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Reading this passage, I became stuck on those words.

Who are these labourers the Lord of the harvest should send?

Who are the people who will go into His harvest field and do the harvesting?

That question brings to mind another question God once asked:

“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Isaiah answered:

“Here am I; send me.”Isaiah 6:8, KJV

Perhaps that should also be our response to the question in Matthew 9: Who will go into the harvest?

Here am I; send me.

Like the people I saw downtown, those of us who believe in God, believe in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, and have had an encounter with the Spirit of God are called to be labourers—harvesters for the Kingdom, spreading the truth and love of God to those around us.

But how can we do this?

Let us look to the Bible for guidance on how we can become harvesters in our everyday lives.

Through Speaking About God

Our call to become harvesters comes from a commission. Jesus told His disciples:

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”Mark 16:15, KJV

Speaking to people directly may expose us to rejection, ridicule, disregard, or simply being ignored. If we are particularly sensitive to rejection, this can make it difficult to keep sharing the Word.

Even within our own families, where we may feel most comfortable speaking, we may encounter relatives and loved ones who have fallen away from the Gospel or who have ready-made arguments to counter what we say.

It can become even more difficult when we feel that we do not have the words or enough knowledge to answer the questions that may come.

How then can we do this?

Emmet Fox suggests what he calls a “spiritual undertaking.” We prepare ourselves by studying and learning, knowing that questions and follow-up may come from our conversations. We pray for intelligence and love, for patience when we encounter ridicule or unkindness, and, above all, for wisdom.

But preparation is not only about what we can learn beforehand. We also trust God to give us the right words when the time comes and to work in the hearts and minds of those who are listening.

The Bible gives similar guidance:

“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”Colossians 4:5–6, KJV

So we prepare ourselves. We study the Word. We ask God for wisdom. And when the opportunity comes, we speak with grace and trust God to help us.

We also do not have to become consumed with the immediate result of the conversation. We speak the truth and leave the outcome with God. Our part is to share the Gospel; God's part is to work in the hearts of those who hear it and draw them to Himself.

Jesus Himself said:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him...”John 6:44, KJV

Perhaps this should take some of the pressure off us.

We are not responsible for forcing anyone to believe. We are not responsible for winning every argument or having an answer to every question. We speak the truth and trust God to work in the hearts of those who hear it.

But speaking directly about God is not the only opportunity we have to become harvesters.

There may be opportunities to participate in church evangelism or personal evangelism.

But for one reason or another—work, circumstances, or even shyness—we may not always be able to stand on a street corner and speak to strangers.

Yet we have another great opportunity: our everyday lives.

Through the Lives We Live

Every day, we meet people. We work with people. We speak with people. We live beside people. We interact with family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and strangers.

Perhaps these ordinary encounters are also opportunities to share our love for God.

Becoming a harvester is not easy. We are called to live in such a way that our lives become an avenue for sharing God's Word and God's love.

The Bible speaks clearly:

“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God...”1 Peter 2:12, NIV

This implies that our natural or old habits must change.

The way we speak matters—the Bible tells us to “let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6, KJV).

The way we treat people matters—Jesus tells us, “as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31, KJV).

The way we respond when we are offended matters—we are told, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing” (1 Peter 3:9, NIV).

The way we deal with people matters—we are to deal honestly and with integrity, taking care “to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man” (2 Corinthians 8:21, NIV).

Our kindness, patience, honesty and conduct toward others—all of these can say something about the God we serve.

Our conduct and behaviour can then become a means through which others see something of God.

Sometimes the quickest way to spread the Truth is simply to live it ourselves. When people see the difference that living according to God's Word makes in our lives, they may begin to wonder about the source of that difference and want to know more.

Through Giving

Another way we can become harvesters is through our giving.

Jesus said:

“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, KJV

Notice the progression:

They see the good works, but they glorify God.

When we give wholeheartedly to others, what we do can reveal something of God to them.

Paul makes this connection even more directly when speaking about generosity. He says that “your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11, NIV). A few verses later, he tells them that because of their giving, “others will praise God” (2 Corinthians 9:13, NIV).

There it is again: we give, but God receives the thanksgiving and the praise.

The same can be true for us.

People are watching us at work, at home, in our communities and even within our own families. What we give—our money, our time, our help, our attention, our skills, our encouragement, and whatever else God has placed in our hands—can draw attention beyond the gift itself to the heart that gives and, ultimately, to the source of our giving.

In response to God's call to become harvesters, we can fulfil the commission in different ways. It may be through one of the ways we have explored, or through all three. But

whichever way we choose, our effort alone is not enough.

We are called to be faithful labourers—to speak, to live, to give—and trust the Lord of the harvest to do what only He can do—draw all men to Himself.

As You Go About Your Day...

Ask yourself:

• How can I become a harvester?

  
  

• Are there people around me with whom I can share my love for God?

  
  

• What do I need to do to prepare myself to become a more effective harvester?

  
  

May God grant us wisdom and boldness to speak about His unfailing love. In Jesus’ name. Amen