The Harvest Is Plentiful
Matthew 9:37–38
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
World English Bible
Jesus looked at the crowds around Him and saw something His disciples might have missed. Where they saw chaos and need, He saw a harvest waiting to be gathered. Where they saw an overwhelming problem, He saw an extraordinary opportunity. The harvest is plentiful, He said. There are people everywhere who are ready to hear the gospel. The issue was never the size of the harvest—it was the shortage of workers willing to gather it.
This is still true today. We live in a world full of people who are searching for meaning, hungering for hope, and open to truth if someone will take the time to share it with them. The mission field is not just a faraway country—it is your workplace, your neighborhood, your family dinner table. The harvest is all around us, but it requires laborers who are willing to go.
Notice that Jesus does not say "go figure it out" or "work harder." He says pray. The solution to the labor shortage in God's harvest is prayer. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers. Ask Him to raise up preachers, teachers, mentors, and servants. Ask Him to stir hearts and open doors. And then do not be surprised if He answers that prayer by sending you.
The most dangerous prayer you can pray is "God, send laborers into Your harvest"—because He often starts with the person doing the praying. But that is also the most exciting prayer you can pray, because nothing is more fulfilling than being part of what God is doing in the world.
Reflect
- Do I see the people around me as a harvest waiting to be gathered, or as an inconvenience?
- Am I praying for God to send laborers into His harvest—including, potentially, me?
- What would it look like for me to step into the harvest field this week in a practical way?
Pray
Pray earnestly for God to send laborers into His harvest—in your community, in your workplace, and around the world. Ask Him to show you where the harvest is plentiful in your own life, and to give you the courage to step into the field.