Matthew 9:37-38 AMP Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”’

I remember listening to a recent teaching, which stirred up a lot in me. The speaker spoke about Sacrificial love, spiritual maturity, and many other things. This study struck me because it made me evaluate my level of spiritual maturity, which made me feel like I wasn’t reproducing fruit. 

Spiritual Maturity and sacrificial love cost us something, our time, finances, resources, etc., without expecting anything in return.  I realized how arrested in my development, I truly was, a notion that was disheartening to come to grips with. But it was simply the truth. 

A mature saint of God will bear fruit. My lack of fruit was a direct witness against me and showed me how selfish and focused on myself I’ve been. It’s impossible for a life focused on “self” to be fruitful or bring any souls into the kingdom of God. Jesus, our Lord, and Savior, led by example. He was a selfless, poured-out vessel, sacrificing himself for all who would accept the gift of salvation. When Jesus walked this earth, he spent time ministering, disciplining, healing, and more to draw souls to Him. To that end, he reminded me that I wasn’t saved to be selfish but selfless, a poured-out vessel willing to share Christ’s love with others. 

We are called to be a laborer in this harvest. As I looked at my life over these past few months, I had to ask myself an honest question, were souls being birthed into the kingdom through my loins? A question I could not honestly answer with a yes.

As a result, I began to study what it meant to be a laborer, which led me to several scriptures, the anchor scripture being Matthew 9:37-38.

What does it mean to labor?

Laborer,

• a workman, a laborer, a worker
• Usually, one who works for hire, esp. an agricultural worker.
• a toiler; figuratively, a teacher: —

Labourer

• a person doing unskilled manual work for wages.
• A labourer is a person who does a job that involves a lot of hard physical work.

Toil

• exhausting physical labor, struggle, work extremely hard or incessantly
• long strenuous fatiguing labor. 
• struggle, battle.: laborious effort.

After reading these definitions of Laboring, I concluded that laboring requires patience, steadfastness, and maturity. Not starting something and aborting the process, but seeing what you started to complete as the Lord does with us. He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it. I also concluded that laboring is a selfless and sacrificial act that can put you out. You might not always feel like doing it, but it’s necessary. The flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing. 

As I began to study the words labourer/laborer, I researched several scriptures which speak about us being labourers. After reviewing these scriptures, we understand where labourer or workman is used; it describes being worthy of one’s hire, worthy of one’s meat, and worthy of one’s reward. 

• Mat 9:37 KJV Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few

• Mat 20:1 KJV – 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

• Mat 20:8 KJV – 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

• Luke 10:2 KJV – 2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

While studying these scriptures, I began thinking that I hadn’t been laboring in discipleship. I haven’t been systematically teaching and going through with someone. “Where is the fruit production?”

Fruit will automatically grow as a result of being poured out and laboring. Where was my fruit? It’s hypocritical to say I want to see souls saved if I’m not working. As I felt conviction, the Lord reminded me of other ways we labor. He also showed me different ways in which I have been laboring. In some forms of labor, you don’t see the immediate fruit; it’s just like farming, seeds are planted, and you don’t know what’s happening beneath the surface. But you must continue watering, trusting, and waiting patiently for harvest time. 

I also began to ponder how before we can effectively labor, we must know what we are called to. We don’t want to be fishing on the wrong side of the boat. Fishing in the flesh because we won’t bear any fruit. Hence, we must be led by the Spirit.

We must Pray to God to ask the area(s) where he is calling us to labor. Laboring doesn’t look the same in every saint’s life since the Lord calls each individual to do particular things for his kingdom. Ultimately, we cannot be effective laborers if we don’t know what we’re called to do. 

So, we must not look around at what a brother or sister is doing and attempt to try to do what they’re doing if the Lord didn’t call you to labor in an area, then don’t try to because it will be unfruitful. Instead, we must seek the Lord in prayer and fasting and allow him to lead us to labor according to His will. 

Why labor?

For the saints, our reward is an eternal one, resting with the lord. Also, when we stand before the Lord, the assurance that we’ve been laboring by bringing in souls. It’s a blessing to see someone saved. Rending them from the hand of the devil. 

The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few: Jesus saw the greatness of human need as an opportunity, as a great harvest. A harvest is a good thing, and this was a plentiful harvest. We must be connected to the vine (Jesus) to reap the harvest. Additionally, when we labor, we: 

• Serve Others 
• Make a difference by participating in the work of God. 
• Deepen our faith in God. 
• Find purpose and fulfillment.
• It keeps our mind focused on eternity. 

Ultimately, being a laborer in God’s kingdom is a calling to contribute to the betterment of humanity, grow in faith, and align your life with God’s purpose. It is a privilege to serve in this way and be part of something greater than oneself, which makes us selfless. 

Before I close, I would like to share five areas where we can start becoming laborers in the Body of Christ. 

1. Prayer/intercession

• I know we are all called to pray without ceasing, but some specific individuals are called to the ministry of intercession. 
• Interceding fervently, morning, noon, night. Praying in the spirit, continually praying over prayer requests
• Intercession is laborious and labor intensive.
• Praying others through to a breakthrough
• Prayer is unseen. No one knows how much you are praying, how often, when, etc., only The Lord does.

2. Evangelism

• Always be ready with our tools and resources to distribute to plant seeds so others can come along to water, and God will get the increase.
• Always friendly and open to talking to people and being social. 

3. Discipleship

• Teaching, meeting regularly with folks/young people to teach the gospel.  
• Be a light amid the darkness, and allow our lives to be an example.
• Labor/travail in birth pains until Christ is formed in others.

4. Ministerial/ministry work

• Preaching, teaching, and doing the works of the ministry. 
• Working as unto the Lord 

5. Fasting

• Fasting for others, to see them set free. 

In Closing, I encourage everyone to Labor until the coming of the Lord, be patient, and persevere. 

James 5:7-11 AMP 

‘So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. 

Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives]. You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. ‘

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