Matthew 9:35-38 "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, 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."
Perhaps, like me, you have often heard this passage described as a plea for the Lord to send men to help His people attain eternal salvation. It is often portrayed as Jesus instructing a handful of disciples to pray for additional resources to get people into heaven. Let me say here that the only “help” that exists to get people into heaven was the man speaking to His disciples. His ear has never been deaf to the cries of His people, and His hand alone has never been too short to save them (Isaiah 59:1).
Jesus was not moved to compassion because these people were dead and lost to eternity. He pitied them because they fainted for lack of sustenance, and the fact that they fainted indicated they had life. Without a shepherd, sheep will overgraze their pasture and will scatter to find sustenance. The Good Shepherd leads His sheep to green pastures and still waters where they can feed and rest.
The only way that there can be a harvest is for seeds to be planted. The seeds take root and grow into plants. The plants flourish and bear fruit. This harvest belongs to the Lord. Jesus is not concerned here with where we are going to spend eternity. He is showing His desire for the health of His people to the glory of God while we live here.
Dear ones, the Lord has a people in every kindred, nation, and tongue. We should have a desire and a concern for the welfare of all His children everywhere. That desire should translate into a desire for Him to call people to bear witness to His saving grace and love for us, not just in our own backyard but everywhere. Let us go and testify of Him with the way we live our lives, with the words we speak, and with love for others even as Jesus has loved us!