08/16/2021
As we look at the many and varied tasks set before us while doing God’s will we become keenly aware of the enormity of what He wants accomplished, and it can appear overwhelming to us at times. We are sent abroad, into our communities, asked to tend to the sheep of Christ in so many ways, and we are told to build churches, show mercy to the poor, and so much more. So we pray for wisdom, guidance, and strength, but there comes a point when the enormity of His plan is still too great, and we must ask for not only help, but helpers. This is not a failure on our part, but rather an admission of our successes, and an understanding of all that needs to be done. Jesus knew this, and instructed us to pray for workers; to ask the Lord to call others, and to send more laborers.
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.””
Matthew 9:37-38 ESV
Farmers know all too well that when the harvest is going slowly it can certainly be as a result of illness or some other handicap that limits them, and in such times they must ask God’s help in overcoming such things as slothfulness, weariness, or other limitations.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 6:10-12 ESV
But, it is also true that everyone, and everything, can be working at the peak of performance yet the field is just too big, and the acreage under cultivation has grown to be too great for the number of workers to manage. In such times we must ask for more helpers, new farm equipment, or other additional increases to productivity. God is aware of the limitations He has built into us…
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.””
Genesis 2:18 ESV
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2 ESV
So when we have done all the good work of the Lord that we are capable of, and we find that He has brought more under cultivation than we can harvest alone, we aren’t meant to leave any of the harvest to rot in the field, but to bring all of it into the storehouse. In consideration of this calling, our prayers should be lifted up, and we should ask for helpmates, so that His will can be done in its entirety without fail. Our intercession in prayer for the success of God’s will should be made so that He is glorified, and His desire brought to fruition as He has imagined it would.
In this way, when we have reached the limits of our strength, and we find that we are in need of additional help in doing God’s will, it is not a failure for us to ask Him for that help. Our desire should be the same as His, and our prayers offered in support of that which He has called us to do. Are we ready to intercede on behalf of the task at hand… for the will of God?
Prayer:
Abba, Father, help us to accomplish your will by strengthening us, but when we have successfully grown your crop, and the harvest requires additional helpers, give us the humility needed to ask you for help. Let our prayers be for helpmates, and possibly angels, to join with us in accomplishing what you have asked to be done. Encourage us Lord, and don’t let our inability appear to us as failure, or our self-assuredness and pride get in the way of seeking your help. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose will we are meant to obey. Great are you who strengthens us, and desires us to ask you for help and helpmates when each is appropriate. Praised be your name as you help us accomplish each day’s labor. Merciful and Good are you who will not push us to the point of breaking without providing us with the ability to accomplish what you have asked of us. You sent an angel to Jesus in Gethsemane, you sent Jesus to us in our sin, and now we ask that you send us help each day in doing your will ourselves. Your grace allows us to overcome all obstacles, and we pray that you make provision so that our prayers and efforts can succeed in doing your will, and bringing you glory always.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:14-15 ESV
Rich Forbes