The Gospel Harvest
J. H. James. Luke 10:2 Therefore said he to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest… I. THE STATE OF THINGS WHICH OUR LORD DESCRIBES. 1. A plenteous harvest. (1) A great number of souls. (2) Great diversity in souls. 2. This vast and varied crop is ready for the sickle. This is proved — (1) By the moral and spiritual necessities of the world. A genuine philanthropist wants no other demand upon his efforts than the misery of His fellow men; and a genuine Christian requires no other proof that men are ready for the gospel than the fact that they need it. Here lay one of the great mistakes of the Church of a former age. She did not think of sending the gospel, because men did not clamour for it. (2) But if our duty be plain in the presence of silent and uncomplaining woe, how much more when misery is suppliant and clamorous at our feet I The world is now conscious of its maladies; and knows full well what can heal them. 3. The labourers are few. They toil on, willing rather to die than to abandon their work. One and another drops and dies, exclaiming, as did the immortal Waterhouse, "more missionaries! more missionaries!" and the very heathen repeat and prolong the cry! II. THE INJUNCTION FOUNDED ON THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION. 1. To whom are our prayers to be addressed? To " the Lord of the harvest."(1) He is the owner and proprietor of the harvest. They are bought with a price. The enemy had usurped possession of the great Creator's claim. (2) And must He not, therefore, take a deep, an unspeakable interest in them? Think you that He can be indifferent whether this harvest is reaped or not? (3) And it is God's absolute and inalienable right to choose and employ His labourers. 2. We are called, then, to pray that God would graciously exert His prerogative in the appointment of His own labourers to reap His own fields. What does this prayer imply? (1) He exerts this prerogative, in part, by the inward operation of His Holy Spirit. (2) We are to pray, not only that God would call and qualify, but also send out labourers into His harvest. And here we must bare regard to His mode of administration. He does for man what man cannot do for himself, but requires him to do all that is in his power. We cannot give the piety; and the intellectual and spiritual gifts; but it is our duty and privilege to furnish the means for sending the men whom God has raised up. 3. Does any one ask, Why, if God is the Lord of the harvest, having such exclusive prerogatives, and so deeply interested in the matter, He should be entreated to do that which it so nearly concerns His honour not to leave undone? We answer, Such sceptical inquiries become not the position of finite and mortal creatures. The objection would apply to all prayer for any blessing; and call in question the whole administration of heaven. (J. H. James.) Parallel Verses KJV: Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. WEB: Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest.