He that Reapeth Receiveth Wages.
By R. F. Cottrell
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” John. 4:35, 36. This text may have a general application to all times in which men have labored in the cause of human salvation. Since sin entered into the world, and the great plan of redemption was laid, there has ever been reaping to do, and all the gatherers with Christ will receive their wages. But at the first advent, a sort of reckoning time with the Jewish people came, and hence, in a peculiar sense, the fields were ready for the harvest. And at the present time, as the final Judgment is pending, the demand for labor in the harvest was never more urgent. But men are apt to make good resolves for some future time. Some four months hence, they intend to enter the field. But the work is all ready, the fields are white. The reaper receives wages. Who are the reapers? Every one, minister or others, who is instrumental in the work of saving men. All may have a share in the work, and consequently a share in the wages. But what are the wages? Are they one thousand, three thousand, five, ten, or twenty thousand dollars a year? By no means. They that covet a great salary and get it, “have their reward.” Such was not the wages of apostles and martyrs. Yet they will have their reward. But what will be the wages? The next clause explains it; they gather “fruit unto life eternal.” They will see the souls they have been instrumental in bringing to eternal life safe with themselves in the kingdom of God. As it will be the Saviour’s joy to see of “the travail of his soul,” to see the redeemed by his blood in everlasting life; so the reapers in the harvest will see of the fruit of their labors, and “enter into the joy” of their Lord. And thus shall “he that soweth,” the Lord Jesus Christ, and “he that reapeth,” his faithful servants, “rejoice together.” Reader, do you not want a share in the wages? a part in the general joy, when the Sower and the reaper shall rejoice together? The fields are white already for the harvest. Enter into the work. Do not say, there are yet four months. You may be too late. Go to work, and you shall receive your wages. As we would have a part, when the harvest is brought home with rejoicing, let us at once enter into the work, that we may bring some sheaves with us—gather some fruit to eternal life. There is no doubt about the wages, if the work is only done. Now is the time to work. R. F. COTTRELL.