The Fields Are Ripe Unto Harvest
...but the labourers are few!

By David J. Stewart

Matthew 9:37, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

       Jesus told His disciples that the fields were ripe unto harvest, but the labourers were few. What does the Lord mean by labourers? The answer is found in 1st Corinthians 3:6-9...

1st Corinthians 3:6-9, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”

This is an amazing passage of Scripture. 1st Corinthians 3:9 says that WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD. Wow, what an honor and privilege. First, we see that God is at work, trying to persuade people to repent and be saved in Jesus' name. God is labouring. The Holy Spirit is convicting the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment (John 16:8). God is labouring to lead lost sinners to get saved. Many people labor for religion; but the Bible tells us to labor with God.

Second, God wants us to join Him in the effort to get people saved by faith in Jesus Christ. What an invitation!!! It is humbling to know that God wants us to labor WITH Him. Notice that the Bible doesn't say that God wants us to labor “for” him; but rather, “WITH HIM.” That is precious! The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 3:6-7 that some believers plant the Seed of the Word of God (the Gospel), and others water that Seed; but only God can work the miracle of salvation (John 1:13). Here are some helpful resources from soul Winning men of God

Let's Go Soul Winning (Pastor Jack Hyles, 1926-2001)

Personal Soul Winning — How To Do It! (Evangelist John R. Rice, 1895-1980)

God wants believers to work with Him. The fact of the matter is that we cannot save anybody. Our part is to share the Bible with others, and then stand back while the Holy Spirit convicts their heart about sin and the Savior. Many religious people attempt to do the work of God in the flesh, but they are serving God in vain. Countless people think they are going to Heaven because they have joined a religion, been water baptized, gone to confession, keep the Sacraments, and try to live a moral life. They are all unsaved religious heathens headed for the Lake of Fire (Matthew 7:21-23). Biblical salvation is a miracle of God in response to an individual's faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God Who died, was buried, and rose again to pay for our sins (1st Corinthians 15:1-4; John 20:31).

God wants us to preach the Gospel message. God wants us to teach others that they are sinners (Romans 3:23), and that there is a penalty for sin (everlasting punishment in hellfire, Romans 6:23), and that Jesus is the Christ Who paid the price for our sins, and that by placing one's trust in Jesus they will be forgiven of all sins and given eternal life. God wants us to teach others that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again 3-days later for our justification. That is the Gospel message (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to him that believeth (Romans 1:16).

Jesus said that God the Father sent Him into the world to bear witness unto the truth. John 18:37, “...To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” The truth is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Who came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus invites all men to come unto Him for eternal life, for salvation is freely offered and available to all mankind...

Matthew 11:28-30:, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus told His disciples that the fields are ripe unto harvest, but the labourers are few. Few believers today care about the things which are Jesus Christs. Philippians 2:21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.” This is what Jesus meant when He said that the labourers are few. Most people are too busy enjoying life, shopping and dining, watching TV, working to pay their bills, et cetera.

Jesus spoke about believers who are choked by the cares, riches and pleasures of this temporal earthly life, bringing forth no fruit, because they are NOT labouring with God to get souls saved...

Luke 8:14-15, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

Those Christians who have a good and honest heart will obey the Lord, working WITH GOD to reach the lost for Christ with the Gospel message. God calls the feet of such obedient believers, “beautiful” in Romans 10:15...

Romans 10:15, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Every believer is sent (commanded) to share the Gospel with the lost. Does God want any believer not to have beautiful feet?

Proverb 11:30 says that a wise person winneth souls. Do you think God wants any believer not to be wise in this area of soul-winning? Of course not, God wants every believer to be wise and have beautiful feet, taking the Gospel to lost sinners, working with God to reach the lost for Christ. Notice that God didn't call the lips or tongue “beautiful.” No, He called the feet “beautiful,” because the most eloquent speech in the world is totally useless if the feet do not carry the Gospel to the lost. Here is God's attitude toward winning the lost to Christ...

Luke 14:23, “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”

God may not be interested in numbers, but He sure ain't interested in an empty house. The Bible says that God wants His house “filled.” If the wealthy, and the healthy, and the worldly won't come to Christ; then God says to bring in the blind, the lame, the deaf, sinners, the murderers and prostitutes, and anybody who will come to Christ for salvation. Very few rich people, nor healthy people, nor celebrities want to hear the Gospel, because they are content without Christ (Matthew 19:24). But those who suffer—amputees, the sick, the troubled, the poor, the paralyzed, the afflicted—they often turn to Jesus Christ because they are rich in faith. James 2:5, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” Certainly, we ought to preach the Gospel to all mankind; but the Bible teaches that the poor, the sick, the heart-broken, are far more likely to receive Christ. The bottom line is that God wants as many people saved as possible. In 2nd Peter 3:9 God says that He wants all men to come to repentance, and none to perish.

1st Corinthians 3:6-9, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”

There are people that will go to Hell if we do not witness to them. The Bible plainly teaches in Romans 10:14 that the lost cannot hear the Gospel without a preacher. Every believer is compelled by God to go forth preaching the Gospel to win the lost.

This world today is ripe unto harvest. Most people have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel message. God has promised to reward those believers who preach the Gospel, whether they plant or water, laboring WITH GOD to win the lost. The Bible teaches that the reward is the same, whether one plants or waters (1st Corinthians 3:8). Only God giveth the increase and can save anyone (1st Corinthians 3:6). God will reward us according to our own labours.

What a wonderful truth to know that we are not commanded to go forth alone to serve the Lord. God is with us when we preach the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are labouring together WITH GOD, as His Spirit moves in the hearts of the lost to get saved. We are labourers together WITH GOD...

1st Corinthians 3:9,For WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”

Soulwinning.info (make your life count for Jesus)

Gospels of John (I give these out while soul winning)


The Sevenfold Sin of Those Who Do Not Win Souls (video by Dr. John R. Rice)

"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."
—2nd Thessalonians 1:8

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