The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
—Matthew 9:37-38
The disciples understood little of what these words meant. Christ gave these words as seeds to be lodged in their hearts for later use. At Pentecost, as they saw how many of the new converts were ready in the power of the Spirit to testify of Christ, they must have felt that the ten days of continuous prayer had brought this blessing of laborers in the harvest as the fruit of the Spirit’s power.
Christ meant to teach us that, however large the field and however few the laborers, prayer is the best, the surest, the only means for supplying the need.
What we need to understand is that prayer must be sent up not only in the time of need, but also in the time of plenty. The whole work is to be carried on in the spirit of prayer so that the prayer for laborers will be in perfect harmony with the whole of our lives and efforts.
At one time in the China Inland Mission, the number of missionaries had risen to two hundred. But there was still such a deep need for more laborers in some districts that, after much prayer, the attendees at a certain conference felt at liberty to ask God to give them one hundred additional laborers and $10,000 to meet the expenses. They agreed to continue in prayer every day throughout the year. At the end of the time, the one hundred suitable men and women had been found, along with $11,000.
To meet the need of the world, its open fields, and waiting souls, the churches all complain of the lack of laborers and of funds. Does not Christ’s voice call us to the united and unceasing prayer that the first disciples had? God is faithful, by the power of His Spirit, to supply every need. Let the church take the posture of united prayer and supplication. God hears our prayer.
Blessed Lord Jesus, teach Your church what it means to live and work for You in the spirit of unceasing prayerfulness so that our faith may rise in the assurance that You will meet the dire needs of a dying world beyond all our expectations. Amen.