Kingdom Work

Jesus focused on his father's business.

John 4:31-38  Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, "Rabbi, eat something."

32 But Jesus replied, "I have a kind of food you know nothing about."  33  "Did someone bring Him food while we were gone?" the disciples asked each other.

34  Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent Me, and from finishing His work.  35  You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.'

But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.  36  The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

37  You know the saying, 'One plants and another harvests.' And it's true.  38  I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest."

---

When Jesus came to the well to meet with the Samaritan woman, he was hungry and weary, it was lunch time and it was a hot day, while his disciples were away getting food he could of found a place to take a nap but instead he was still busy doing his Father's work.

Just like a lot of son's did in that culture, Jesus was in the same line of work as his father, the family business or their trade was usually passed down to the next generation. Seeking to save souls was their work and they were both diligent and very focused to accomplish it.

Jesus would go to great lengths to promote his father's business and he wasn't afraid to miss a meal to go after a "business opportunity." For most of us our main goal in life is to avoid fatigue and to seek out food. We are very focused on our own needs instead of the needs of others and the needs that we focus on are usually our temporary needs. God and his son Jesus are always focused on the ultimate end of bringing glory to God.

Luke 7:34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, 'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!'

It is interesting that later on Jesus would be wrongly accused of being focused on his earthly desires. The one that left the riches of heaven was accused of being greedy for the comforts of earth, what a slanderous remark for them to make about the Messiah, he wasn't on our planet to have a party with the humans. I am sure that there were enjoyable moments while he was here on earth, there must have been some fun, but overall he didn't gain any pleasure here to makeup for what he lost up there.

What's The Most Important?
1 Peter 2:21  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.

Sometimes you get to harvest where you never expected to. The seed that Jesus planted in the heart of this Samaritan woman was already developed and it was already producing a crop. Usually after the seed is planted there is time to sit back and relax and wait but not with the seed that Jesus planted. The harvest is ready and if you don't work now you may lose some of the crop.

How encouraging it is to see a crop so quickly after you have done the work of sowing seeds. Few workers get to see their reward so soon and many never see any harvest after a lifetime of labor for the Lord.

Colossians 3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Just like the disciples, I need to focus on the eternal and develop a harvest mindset. I can easily focus on my temporary needs and forget the eternal needs of the people that need Jesus. Sometimes I focus on lunch, maybe comfort, or maybe the desire to be accepted but Jesus was willing to suffer for the work of the kingdom.