Matthew 9:36,37 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless… Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few… Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
I have never thought that God’s plan was a sound one. The fact that He relies on his people to be his hands and feet here on earth seems to me to be as flawed as those people. It is his plan though, and as He is God, my critique is inconsequential.
In this passage, Jesus looked out at the suffering masses around him and felt compassion for them. He saw their need and was sympathetic to their misery. He certainly helped those He met, but He also mourned that there were not more following his lead. It seems like He was saying, There are so many who need, but I am only one man. To which I say, You are God. You could fix all of it if you wanted. Why do you rely on frail, dysfunctional and defective people to do your work?
It seems to me that Jesus was in conflict. He wanted to help those in need, but He also wanted his followers to be the ones doing the work. For better or worse, this is still his plan. As Christ’s followers, we are his body here on Earth.
I may find it a flawed plan, but I cannot escape the fact that I am expected to follow Christ’s lead. I am to recognize those around me who are hurting and have compassion for them. I can recall a time, when I wanted to follow Christ, but I did not know what I could do as I did not see any immediate need around me. I was blind. The truth is, there is need all around me. I just need to open my eyes to see those who are addicted, incarcerated, sick, or hurting.
I do not have to save the world but I am expected to love those around me. I am to do what I can to meet their need and tell them what Jesus has done for me. I am to recruit others to do the same. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…
If I claim to follow Christ but I refuse to do what He asks of me, I must ask myself if I am following him at all. I have been guilty of this intellectual knowledge of Jesus that never translated into action. This is not faith. It is only faith when my knowledge of him manifests as following him. If I claim to follow Jesus but I do not do his work, then I am fooling myself.
Whether I like the plan or not, it is his plan for me to be his hands and feet to those around me. I need to love others and tell of what He has done for me. If I do not do as Jesus did, I am not following him.