By

Shelby G. Floyd

 

If the church is to increase and grow we must all get involved in the law of the seedtime and harvest. Solomon taught that if we are to expect a harvest we must get up early in the morning and sow the seed and not wait till the evening of life:

“Sow your seed in the morning and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

In many of the parables that Jesus taught, God is pictured as the owner of a huge farm with an abundant harvest. But much of the harvest may possibly be lost because of a lack of workers. Jesus said, “The harvest is truly plenteous but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37).

God can do whatever pleases him (Psalms 115:3), but it does not please him for man to circumvent his own plan to save man. Paul outlined God’s plan in his letter to the Romans:

For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:13-17 NKJV).

From this scripture we learn several facts about our task of proclaiming the gospel message:

1. God saves those who call on the Lord.

2. Men cannot call on someone they do not believe in.

3. They cannot believe in one of whom they have not heard.

4. They cannot hear unless someone preaches the word to them.

5. Someone must send and someone must go to sow the seed.

The lack of growth is and always has been a lack of workers. Unless we all get involved in making disciples, no one will go to evangelize the lost. Like the apostle Paul said, “The love of God compels me,” to carry our own load and go forth to do good works.

Copyright © 2017 Shelby G. Floyd, All Rights Reserved

 

Shelby G. Floyd
Heartland Church of Christ
1693 West Main Street
Greenwood, Indiana 46142