Sharing the Labor

"I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor." (John 4:38)

Today I am looking at the part where Jesus said that others have labored and you have entered into their labor. I have previously suggested that one way of seeing this is that the woman took over harvesting when the disciples failed to even discern there was a harvest even going on and they may have become part of the content of her harvest instead of the other way around. I still say that is a very valid potential, but there is more than one way to read these words.

Clearly, Jesus is saying that they are entering into someone else's labor, whoever that may be. Another way of perceiving this may be to suggest that they had opportunity to join alongside others who were more aware of what was going on and what needed to be done. This certainly has a lot of evidence to support it. Jesus was eager to get on with harvesting given the ripeness of the “food” waiting to be taken in and enjoyed. The woman did not take long to see the enormous potential in this harvest and jumped right in to help in every way she could. Now Jesus might be saying to His disciples that He wanted them to observe and learn from others about the true nature and methods that would be effective and join in helping out, even if that meant needing to be mentored by a Samaritan woman.

The Samaritan woman was clearly already involved in the harvesting. She was working so fast and so enthusiastically that she was already returning to Jesus with as many people as she could bring at one time to present to Him to continue processing while she might return for more. This is the true spirit of a real harvester – a person who has a clear vision and passion for introducing people to Jesus and inducing the most curiosity and hope in their hearts as possible. Then as they are stunned by the surprising light glowing from the harvester's face, like deer in the headlights, instead of trying to indoctrinate them herself or even mentor them she simply leads them immediately to Jesus for Him to do what He does best – reveal to their hearts the passionate love of the Father.

This is what real harvesting is all about from heaven's perspective. This is the kind of harvesting that I want to participate in and become more effective myself. But this kind of harvesting requires first a transformation of the soul and spirit, a fire in the bones, an infusion of the very passion of God that lights up every faculty of the heart and mind and stimulates one to dare and do things they never dreamed of doing or saying before. It cannot happen unless the Holy Ghost has invaded the heart and taken over the life.

As I read today's reading from My Utmost For His Highest I felt a resonance with this very message. If you recall, when a person harvests grain by hand it is necessary to use a sharp tool like a sickle. I also remember that in Revelation Jesus is portrayed as having a sickle coming out of His mouth to reap the harvest of the earth. In another place in Revelation He is seen as having a sharp sword coming from His mouth. When I put all of this together it really fits well with what Oswald Chambers has to say in relation to one of the important but uncomfortable methods needed in real harvesting.

I came not to send peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34.

Never be sympathetic with the soul whose case makes you come to the conclusion that God is hard. God is more tender than we can conceive, and every now and again He gives us the chance of being the rugged one that He may be the tender One. If a man cannot get through to God it is because there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up—‘I will admit I have done wrong, but I no more intend to give up that thing than fly.’ It is impossible to deal sympathetically with a case like that: we have to get right deep down to the root until there is antagonism and resentment against the message. People want the blessing of God, but they will not stand the thing that goes straight to the quick.

If God has had His way with you, your message as His servant is merciless insistence on the one line, cut down to the very root, otherwise there will be no healing. Drive home the message until there is no possible refuge from its application. Begin to get at people where they are until you get them to realize what they lack, and then erect the standard of Jesus Christ for their lives—‘We never can be that!’ Then drive it home: ‘Jesus Christ says you must.’ ‘But how can we be?’ ‘You cannot, unless you have a new Spirit’ (Luke 1 l:13).

There must be a sense of need before your message is of any use. Thousands of people are happy without God in this world. If I was happy and moral till Jesus came, why did He come? Because that kind of happiness and peace is on a wrong level; Jesus Christ came to send a sword through every peace that is not based on a personal relationship to Himself.

Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. December 19