“His disciples urged him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.’ Then his disciples said to each other, ‘Could someone have brought him food?’ ‘My food,” said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.’” - John 4:31-38 (NIV)

What brought joy to the heart of Jesus? Very simply, it was when individuals heard the Good News of the Gospel and responded to that news. In fact, this conversation that Jesus had with the disciples comes directly after He had been talking to the Samaritan woman at the well. She had not only believed Jesus but went back to her village and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” So now the members of the town were coming to see this man Jesus while the disciples were telling Him to go and eat something.

It was in this context that Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” There have been times in my life where I went out of my way to meet a human need or to spend time with someone who does not yet know Christ. To be honest, sometimes I didn’t want to go. I was tired and hungry, or had other things I would rather be doing. But once I’d been with them, I would not have traded the opportunity for anything. I came home full of energy, even if tired. Joining God in His work is like that.

We often look around us and think, “there’s no one that is really interested in hearing the Gospel.” But the truth is that the needs of the human heart are huge. This is why Jesus says, “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” There are many who are looking for answers to their lives - like the Samaritan woman. They are just waiting for someone to share that news with them.

In this regard, Jesus says we play one of several roles. Sometimes we sow a seed that will eventually lead individuals to look for answers in Jesus. Sometimes we reap, when we have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ. In the Epistles, Paul adds that sometimes we simply water the seed that has been sown and not yet harvested. Every one of us can play a role in the job the Father sent Jesus to do and which He passed on to us. We sow, water or harvest and this is the great work of God. There is no food more satisfying than joining Him in His work. I am sure you have experienced it. 

Remember as you relate to people around you that the fields are ripe for harvest. That the needs of the human heart are large and that many want to know how to find the answers to their personal search. We have the opportunity to sow seeds, water them or participate in the harvest. This is work that God has called every one of us to.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for those who sowed seeds of faith into my life. Remind me often that there are people all around me who are longing for someone or something to fill the hole in their hearts. Give me an opportunity to sow seeds of faith, to water what others have sown or to participate in the harvest. Amen.