Introducing the new 9:38 book, ‘Workers for the Harvest Field’. The book aims to set out biblical principles behind gospel work, give examples of all sorts of gospel work, and guidance on how to get there. Here’s the introduction by Vaughan Roberts.
Introduction
Jesus went
through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching
the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When
he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed
and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The
harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest,
therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’
Matthew 9:35-38
People today are no different to those Jesus met in the first century; they are ‘harassed and helpless’. Can we see them as they really are, in all their desperate need? We are surrounded by those who are lost, separated from God and facing eternity without him, ‘like sheep without a shepherd’. Do we have compassion on them? Jesus did, and his compassion led to action. He saw a vast harvest waiting to be gathered in but hardly any workers to do the job. So he issued an instruction to his followers: ‘Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field’ (Matthew 9:38).
That command still applies today. Although 2000 years of Christian witness have past, there are still millions in our world who have never even heard the name of Christ. Vast areas of Asia, North Africa and the Middle East have been largely untouched by the gospel. Even in countries where many profess to be Christians there is great ignorance. There is still a desperate need for workers to be sent into the harvest field to reach the world and build the church. Ultimately it is God who must send them (as Jesus does at the beginning of Matthew 10, sending out the twelve) but we are called to play our part as well. Jesus tells us to pray. That, in essence, is the 9:38 challenge. If we begin to see the world as Jesus sees it, we can not do nothing. We must share our Lord’s compassion and seek to do all we can for those who do not know him. Will we commit ourselves to urgent prayer that he would be raising up, training and sending out suitably godly and gifted workers to serve him in his world? And will we pray about our own role in this vital task?
This book is written for disciples of Jesus Christ who are willing to do just that. You have put your trust in him and have received his gift of salvation. You know that all Christians are ministers of Christ, called to serve him in the world and the church, and you have already begun to do that in various ways. But now you are wondering how you can best serve him with the rest of your life.
These pages attempt to describe the nature of gospel ministry and to answer the questions that those who are considering it may have. The aim is not to persuade everyone that they should give up their present jobs and offer themselves as workers to churches and missionary organisations. We all have different gifts. Some are suited to this kind of work, others are best used in other ways. We must resist the idea that some jobs are better or more ‘spiritual’ than others. But we should all be asking ourselves this question: ‘What is it that I could do, as the person I am and with the gifts that God has given me, that would most bring glory to God through the spread of the gospel?’ For some that will mean staying where they are, for others it will mean a significant change of direction. Before reading any further, spend a moment praying that this book would help you discern how best you can use your life for God’s glory. And pray the prayer of Matthew 9:38: that God would send out workers into his harvest field.
Buy the book to read more!
It is published by the Good Book Company and retails at £8. To find out more contact us. Please pass on the details to anyone you think could benefit from reading this new resource.