Supply and demand are keys to free enterprise. Give people what they want at a fair price and everyone profits.
In God's economy, however, there is a critical problem with supply in relationship to demand. It's a supply crisis worse that any oil or food crisis the world has ever seen. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)
Growing up in the fertile Midwest, I well remember the many acres of ripe corn and soybean fields in the fall. Through the hardships of spring planting amidst plentiful rains, and the challenges of summer heat, a healthy crop ready to be harvested is eagerly anticipated. Nothing, then, seems more ironic or unjust, than a waiting harvest with woefully inadequate harvest workers! The time of harvest is limited, and thus the urgency of the need for workers.
If Jesus pronounced God's harvest ready, then the urgency of the task is great. Harvesting too soon would be pointless, and too late would be incredibly wasteful.
It appears to me that a certain degree of "harvest discernment" is essential in God's economy. We live in a society that exhibits what I will call "harvest reluctance". The need for harvest is especially urgent, but the willingness just isn't there. It's like trying to run a combine through a field of steel poles. These are people characterized in the parable of seed and the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) as thorny soil - things of the world crowd out growth of the word about the kingdom (the gospel).
Our greatest effectiveness is in working with the "crop" that is ready, and is yielded to harvest. And we all encounter such people regularly. These are people that have a need in their lives and know it; people whom we especially have their ear. These are people who longingly look toward us for the "supply" they see in our lives that they perceive matches the "demand" and need in their lives.
Jesus exhibited "harvest discernment" in his service on earth. He declared truth to the masses, invested Himself in a certain "seventy" (Luke 10:1) that He sent out, and poured Himself intensely into twelve, three, and ultimately one person. His efforts varied according to the ripeness of the harvest.
A vast harvest is ready around us, and it is essential that we have a harvest mentality. It's much too easy to focus on ourselves and those in our immediate circle, and neglect to see the waiting harvest. It's far bigger than us, so the Jesus' priority is our urgent priority as well - "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
May our harvest mentality be expanded this day.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
In God's economy, however, there is a critical problem with supply in relationship to demand. It's a supply crisis worse that any oil or food crisis the world has ever seen. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)
Growing up in the fertile Midwest, I well remember the many acres of ripe corn and soybean fields in the fall. Through the hardships of spring planting amidst plentiful rains, and the challenges of summer heat, a healthy crop ready to be harvested is eagerly anticipated. Nothing, then, seems more ironic or unjust, than a waiting harvest with woefully inadequate harvest workers! The time of harvest is limited, and thus the urgency of the need for workers.
If Jesus pronounced God's harvest ready, then the urgency of the task is great. Harvesting too soon would be pointless, and too late would be incredibly wasteful.
It appears to me that a certain degree of "harvest discernment" is essential in God's economy. We live in a society that exhibits what I will call "harvest reluctance". The need for harvest is especially urgent, but the willingness just isn't there. It's like trying to run a combine through a field of steel poles. These are people characterized in the parable of seed and the soil (Matthew 13:1-23) as thorny soil - things of the world crowd out growth of the word about the kingdom (the gospel).
Our greatest effectiveness is in working with the "crop" that is ready, and is yielded to harvest. And we all encounter such people regularly. These are people that have a need in their lives and know it; people whom we especially have their ear. These are people who longingly look toward us for the "supply" they see in our lives that they perceive matches the "demand" and need in their lives.
Jesus exhibited "harvest discernment" in his service on earth. He declared truth to the masses, invested Himself in a certain "seventy" (Luke 10:1) that He sent out, and poured Himself intensely into twelve, three, and ultimately one person. His efforts varied according to the ripeness of the harvest.
A vast harvest is ready around us, and it is essential that we have a harvest mentality. It's much too easy to focus on ourselves and those in our immediate circle, and neglect to see the waiting harvest. It's far bigger than us, so the Jesus' priority is our urgent priority as well - "beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
May our harvest mentality be expanded this day.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:53 AM
1 Comments:
At 10:05 AM,
Pastor Chuck said…
Steve,
That nail was surly driven in. Hit right on the head. This would be one of those "provocations to good works" without a doubt.
Thanks
Chuck
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