The Hard Work

“Where else can you go and talk about Jesus to people who are coming to learn about Jesus?” mused my wife, Peggy. She was speaking about our Friday night Bible study through International Friendships (IFI), a ministry to international students pursuing degrees at American colleges and universities, many of whom know little, if anything, about Jesus when they arrive. She had a great point, yet I had an answer for her: Kairo Prison Ministries, “a short course in Christianity” for incarcerated men and women. For here also, seekers find answers from sharers, and in these answers, new life. Quipped one young Kairos volunteer to his wife, “I feel like I’m cheating!” But what we don’t see is all the groundwork others have toiled to lay before us.

As the denizens of Sychar made their way toward Jesus, He observed to His disciples, “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”¹ Did you catch it? The hard work in the Kingdom of God is not in the glorious reaping, but in the laborious sowing. Wrote Paul to the Corinthian church, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.”² We are one body on one mission with one gospel, and each of us works as the Spirit leads us.

Among the “hard workers” in this Samaritan village was one unlikely woman who dared to tell others of her encounter with a thirsty Messiah offering living water. Then what about you — who were they who did the “hard work” of sowing Scripture seeds in you, and how long did it take for those seeds to germinate? Who were they whose joy, peace and contentment shone too brightly for you to ignore? Who patiently abided your rebellion and capably answered your arguments? It took time, didn’t it? Time and people.

Sometimes we feel like we must carry the entire evangelistic load by ourselves. This makes us feel too overwhelmed to act or too discouraged to continue. But God’s model is that we do the hard work together. So toil cheerfully. There will be a harvest of life, and we will rejoice as one.

“Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. ³⁷ For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’” John 4:36-37 ESV

Father, You bless our lives with everlasting Kingdom purpose. Grace us to hear Your call today, and strengthen us for the work You have prepared for us to do. Be glorified in Your church. In Christ we pray. Amen.

¹ John 4:38 NIV
² 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 ESV