Don't Put Off the Harvest

Sermon outline: The urgency of the harvest

Sermon title: The Harvest Is Now

Text: John 4:35-38

Big idea: Jesus challenges us to abandon procrastination, open our eyes to the spiritual readiness of people around us, and joyfully participate in the cooperative work of the harvest for eternal life.

Introduction: See what Jesus sees

The setting: Jesus and his disciples are in Samaria. The disciples return from town with food, expecting a long wait before any "harvest" of souls in this unlikely place.

The contrast: The disciples see green fields and think of the traditional "four months until harvest." Jesus points to the Samaritan people, who are now walking toward them, and says, "The fields are white already to harvest!".

The challenge: This passage challenges our natural tendency to wait for a "better time" or to assume people are not ready for the gospel. We need to lift our eyes and see the world through Jesus's perspective.

The Time is at Hand—Abandon the "four-month" mentality (v. 35)

• Illustration: Tell the story of a farmer who looks at his field of ready-to-cut hay and says, "We'll get to that in a week or two, after the other chores are done." A few days later, a sudden, heavy thunderstorm rolls in and soaks the field, ruining the hay that was perfectly ripe for baling. All the hard work of planting and fertilizing is lost due to a four-day delay.

• Connection to sermon: This illustration directly contrasts the disciples' "four-month" mentality with the spiritual reality. The harvest is ripe now, and delaying can mean missing the opportunity to gather souls that are ready. We don't know when the "storm" will come, but we must act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit today.

White to harvest:

Luke 10:2 ESV

2 And he said to them, “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.

The proverb: Jesus references a common saying about the four-month wait between sowing and reaping in farming. He uses it to highlight a spiritual truth: the rules of the natural world don't apply to God's work.

The "white" fields: The phrase "white for harvest" refers to grain that has ripened and is ready for gathering. Jesus applies this to the crowd of Samaritans approaching, whose hearts were prepared for the gospel through the woman at the well's testimony.

The application: We must reject the urge to delay sharing our faith, thinking we need a perfect situation. Spiritual opportunities are often more abundant than we realize, and the time for evangelism is always "now".

The Labor is Meaningful—Work for an eternal reward (v. 36)

Wages and fruit: Jesus explains that those who reap the harvest receive "wages" and "gather fruit for eternal life".

The wages

This is not a reference to financial payment, but the deep spiritual satisfaction and heavenly reward that comes from seeing someone come to faith.

Proverbs 11:18 ESV

18 The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

1 Corinthians 9:17–18 ESV

17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18 What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

The fruit

The "fruit" is the salvation of souls and the gift of eternal life that comes through believing the gospel.

Romans 1:13 ESV

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

The joy of shared labor

Both the sower and the reaper will "rejoice together" in the final result.

There is no competition in God's kingdom, only mutual celebration over a life saved.

1 Corinthians 3:4–10 NASB95

4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not mere men? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.

The application: Participating in the harvest gives our lives eternal purpose beyond earthly pursuits. No work is more important or meaningful than laboring for the salvation of souls.

The Tasks are Assigned—Embrace your role in a shared mission (vv. 37–38)

One sows, another reaps:

Jesus affirms the truth of this popular saying but reinterprets it positively.

In God's plan, some do the hard, often unseen work of sowing seeds, while others have the privilege of reaping where they have not labored.

Micah 6:15 ESV

15 You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.

The labor of others:

The disciples were stepping into a harvest prepared by the work of others, including Old Testament prophets, John the Baptist, and Jesus himself, who bore the ultimate cost.

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 NASB95

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

The unified body of Christ:

This shared work demonstrates the need for all parts of the church.

We should be grateful for those who have gone before us and cooperate with one another, recognizing that everyone has a vital, God-given role in the harvest.

Conclusion: Get into the field

Review: The harvest is ready, labor is meaningful because it results in eternal life, and everyone is part of a shared, joyful mission.

Call to action: The field is still white for harvest. The call is for action. Consider the following:

Whose hearts around you is God preparing to hear the gospel?

Are you sowing seeds, or are you positioned to reap?

Are you willing to do the will of the Father?

Final thought: It is important to get into the field and work, knowing that one day there will be rejoicing together with all who are gathered in for eternal life.