“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” – Matthew 9:37
Two partners were discussing their business strategies for the upcoming new year. One was focused only on making more money, to which the other responded, “instead, why don’t we see how many more people we can help?” The first partner reminds me of my annual failed attempts at New Year’s resolutions, which typically center around exercising more, improving my diet, losing a few pounds, those sorts of things – but ultimately are about me. Perhaps the second partner was suggesting a better approach, focusing less on themselves and more on helping others.
An old pastor friend of mine is an amazing observer of people. Oftentimes when in a restaurant or Starbucks together, noticing someone acting surly toward the server, or otherwise appearing distraught in some way – troubled or lonely or angry – he would lean over to me and whisper, “that person needs to be loved on.”
I think the second business partner and my old pastor friend may have been singing from the same page in the songbook, different verses perhaps, but the same song. My pastor friend recognized the abundance of people around in need of help, starving as he would say “to be loved on.” Likewise, the second business partner recognized an opportunity in there being a scarcity of people willing to do so. Together it was exactly the message Jesus was trying to teach his disciples when he pointed out to them that “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
Admittedly, after over-indulging during the holidays I could use a good dose of self-discipline to take off some of those extra pounds I have gained, which may well enhance my personal appearance and even my health, but does little toward helping others or improving mankind. Instead, says the writer of Hebrews, “let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Is that not what the second business partner was trying to suggest to the first? Sounds like a good business strategy to me, and a New Year’s resolution that will not end in failure. And if in fact “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few,” perhaps by joining the workforce might even help knock off a few extra pounds, or in the case of the two business partners improve their profitability.