Command 21 : Pray for Laborers | Day 143

Recruit Laborers God's Way!

I still recall a church business meeting I attended years ago. The need was presented for a man to fill the position of a deacon, and several recommendations were made. Each one declined until someone recommended a man who was not present. The vote for him to become the new deacon was unanimous. Then someone said, "That's what he gets for not being here!" Thereafter, the joke became, "If you don't want to get elected, make sure you are at the meeting!"

What a drastic contrast to the pattern of selecting laborers that is described in the Book of Acts. The leaders of the church of Antioch met together for a time of prayer and fasting. It was during that time of intimate fellowship with the Lord that the Holy Spirit said to them, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them” (Acts 13:2).

Recruiting is not choosing the people we think are qualified, but praying for God to reveal those whom He has chosen.

Recruiting coworkers for the Lord's work is a serious matter. We may think we know what it takes, but in reality it is difficult to discern if a person will succeed when he encounters the trials and challenges that are part of harvesting for the Lord. Samuel was a Godly prophet and was told by the Lord to "recruit" a king for Israel. God even told Samuel which family His chosen one would come from, but Samuel still did not understand God's method. Upon seeing Jesse's oldest son, Samuel exclaimed, “Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him” (I Samuel 16:6).

Samuel's approach to choosing leaders was the same as ours often is today. We have a tendency to base our evaluation of a person's potential for spiritual leadership on observable qualities rather than on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God instructed Samuel, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7).

In retrospect, Eliab, Samuel's first choice, would have made a horrible leader. He was proud, vindictive, judgmental, and condemning of the one whom God had chosen. These qualities were revealed in the time of battle.

Jesus spent all night praying before choosing His disciples. It is just as important for us to spend time in prayer before choosing workers.

I have made the mistake of choosing individuals who had outward qualifications and seemed ideal for certain positions without spending adequate time in prayer. Often, the result was disillusionment for both of us. Let's recognize and follow the precedent that Jesus set of praying to the Lord to send His chosen laborers into His harvest.