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Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Matthew 9:37
Next week I’m traveling to Minnesota for a few days to help my brother with harvest and visit family. He’s finishing up with the field corn right now – the kind you feed to livestock, make corn flakes, and ethanol.
It is difficult to find laborers at harvest time, like Jesus says in this passage. My brother has a few neighbors he knows who he hires to drive truck or tractor for him. He can’t do it all by himself, he needs help. When I’m there, I often do the odd jobs that need to be done or simply speed up things by having more hands-on deck.
Sometimes I drive to town to get parts or help move, fuel, and set up machines. For me, the most fun is when I get to be the Cart Driver. It’s a tractor and wagon that shuttles the grain from the combine (harvester) to the trucks that take the grain storage bins until it goes to market. It is an exciting time!
Sometimes I get to drive his big 18-wheeler, a semi-tractor trailer truck, with 80,000 lbs. of corn. It has a long trailer and is hard to turn in and out of narrow field driveways without tipping over or getting stuck. I need to remind myself that I’m just an amateur at this, not a professional. Farming can be a very hazardous occupation with large machinery and equipment, long hours, and other people working with you.
The farmer struggles throughout the spring and summer facing challenges and dangers like hail, drought, flooding, wind, insects, mold, and weeds. When all the grain is in the bin, there is a lot of relief and joy. When it is finally sold and taken to market, then it’s on to another year and another crop to worry and pray over.
In the church, we talk of the harvest as the coming of the Lord, when He will gather all who believe into our eternal kingdom, heaven. The workers are you and me, everyone who shares the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. We are all laborers, evangelists, messengers who have a responsibility to bring as many people to heaven with us. God invites us, calls us, to be labors in his harvest– what an honor!
Just as I enjoy being a part of my brother’s harvesting, I enjoy being a part of God’s harvest here in West Palm Beach. The harvest is plentiful - there area lot of people here who do not know Jesus. Just as my brother wouldn’t want to leave any crop in the field, unharvested – God doesn’t want us to leave anyone behind, either.
Who can you be praying for? Who can you talk to? Have you invited someone to come find out about Jesus? It takes persistence, hard work, and leaning upon God for guidance and strength and courage. But in the end, like the grain in the bin, it brings pure joy! Let’s get to work!
In Christ;
Pastor Dan
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- First Evangelical’s Church Council will meet after church this Sunday at 11:30.
- Our Church Choir will rehearse next Sunday after worship, and before worship on Sunday, October 26th, when they will help lead worship for Reformation Sunday. Remember to wear red that Sunday!
- Do you love decorating and have a heart for worship? Join our Altar Guild as they prepare for communion and baptisms, put up banners, paraments, and seasonal decorations. Join us after lunch at 11:45 am on Sunday, October 19th.
- Starting last week, we have additional cars parking on the property for workers being shuttled out to Poinciana Plaza seven days a week. You may see signs for valet parking, and parking on the grass areas and basketball courts for these workers. You may park in your regular spaces on Sundays. This is part of a parking contract we have with IntraPark Transportation Services.
- Join us for a delicious lunch following worship this Sunday in the Fellowship Hall
