Making Hay

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”   

Matthew 9:37-38 

Ever been overwhelmed with trying to get jobs done? Too much to do. Not enough time. Not enough energy. I’m sure that some farmers feel that way as they approach harvest time. Imagine how a farmer feels when all of a sudden one morning he realizes that his crop is ready. He’s been hoping for a dry clear day for months, fighting against diseases, cursing weeds, and now suddenly the moment arrives.  

The solution? The farmer can’t hope for more time, he can’t cut the losses and only harvest a little, and he can’t destroy a part of the field. He needs help. He quickly recruits hands and machines to bring in the harvest. At the risk of projecting human emotions on God, consider how God “felt” when he looked at the harvest of souls.  

I think that Christ spoke those words with great emotion, excitement, and pain. Because of his love for souls, you know the Lord felt pain at seeing all the work. You know there was a sense of a farmer’s urgency. 

What was Jesus’ solution? He looked at his twelve disciples and knew that they weren’t enough. Haymaking of souls would require more hands and feet and voices. So he said, “Pray for workers.” Beseech, beg, implore, and ask with emotion. Pray for workers! 

The disciples did. They got an answer. And you are it. You are the haymaker Christ commanded to be prayed for. Can you resist the prayers of the disciples and the scores of saints through time? Don’t you dare. Make some hay today! 

Lord, grant me a measure of urgency and even panic at the thought of the harvest. There are so many people to reach. I pray for myself as a haymaker. And I pray for others to join me that the crops be brought in on time.