The Fields Are Ripe

The Fields Are Ripe

It is wonderful to know that we are God’s and to realize the blessedness that is ours because of it. God chooses us to be members of His kingdom not only so that He might bless us but also that we might know the joy of serving and praising Him. We can play a role in His great plan.

Is it reasonable to expect God to bless us if we do not share His concerns? How can we possibly bring praise to His name if we drift through life pursuing only our own interests? While we are quick enough to receive the benefits He bestows, we are often slow to demonstrate our appreciation. We should realize that God will be faithful and bless us in our efforts to serve Him, however inconsequential those efforts might seem to us.

The fields are ripe. This should concern us not only because we have been called to work in the harvest but also because the ripened fields concern Him. Our world has many needs. Even in our high-tech age, there are still many who have never heard the name of Jesus. Many tribal groups lack even a scrap of Scripture. The challenge to get the job done is staggering. The completion of the task requires not only people whose lives are entirely devoted to missionary service but also a supportive home base. Everyone can and ought to have a part in world missions. How can we not? Those who venture into foreign fields deserve all the assistance we can give. Even words of encouragement through a letter can make a difference to a lonely missionary. Remember that missionaries are human.

The missionary must be spiritually minded, as opposed to material minded. That is because his chief aims are spiritual . . . The temptation to regard material things too highly is just as great on the field as it is at home, if not greater. So it is not easy, even for a missionary, to ‘seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.’ But it is quite essential to his ministry. Surely the same holds true for us all.

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