25. Laborers into Harvest
Matthew 9:38
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
If you pray for laborers, then God will send forth laborers into the harvest. This conditional promise for laborers is an answer to prayer that God Himself wants us to pray. God wants laborers and God wants us to pray for them; He promises to hear that prayer.
The harvest can apply to the physical harvest of the annual crops on the farm, or to any other project that needs harvesting, but it is most likely that Jesus is referring to the spiritual harvest of souls into the kingdom of God; for He speaks of the Lord of the harvest, implying the spiritual world and the harvest of souls.
These laborers are people who witness to Jesus and preach the Gospel announcing the forgiveness of sins. These laborers are sent forth, that is, commissioned by the Lord for a mission. In truth, the Lord commissions every believer and sends him forth as a laborer. God needs laborers, witnesses, and preachers since God has limited himself to the preaching of the word through believers. God needs these human beings of flesh and blood as well as these laborers need God to do the converting, saving and harvesting. God loves His children so much that He wants to involve them in His great work; He doesn’t do it Himself, but He works through people.
Therefore, Jesus commands and promises: He commands us to pray for laborers and He promises to answer our prayers by sending them forth. Sending starts it all off: God sends someone to preach so they can hear so they can believe so they can call upon Him so that they may be saved [Romans 10:13-15]. Without “sending” no one would hear and believe and be saved. Therefore, this promise of laborers is so vital to the life and growth of the kingdom of God. This promise incentivizes us to pray.