Fit for a special task – Part 2

Soul winners and workers in the Vineyard who abandon their duty posts and run in the wrong direction are hirelings. They dishonour their call and ministry by doing things and going to places that bring the church of Christ into disrepute. They are like the ‘prodigal’ Jonah. We must recognise and recover these running hirelings, for there is work for everyone to do. When hirelings flee from their duties, they expose the sheep to the wolf; “and the wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.”

Hirelings lack the stamina, courage and conviction to confront wolves. They cannot sacrifice or endure to achieve unity and spiritual development of God’s people. Instead of confronting evil, they prioritise ease and personal gains and forget that there are sinners to reach out to in their communities. Some of these hirelings, though workers and leaders in the church, are not able to influence anyone to repent. They neglect their responsibilities, causing sinners to remain in wickedness and “strengthen also the hands of evildoers.”

Despite these, we must not abandon those who have strayed. We must be ready to correct, rebuke and encourage them to return to their posts. That way, “they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking.” Although Jonah was a runaway prophet, God recovered and recommissioned him. Like Jonah, believers who have deserted the Master’s work may require chastisement and discipline, as these will lead to their restoration ultimately.

Believers are selected, set apart and sanctified to reap the ready, ripened harvest by reaching out to the lost. Of is the greatest duty you can of to God. The harvest field is ripe and ready, and awaits our response. The spiritual state of the lost should spur us to compassion. Besides, we are instructed, “pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Alongside preaching repentance, our duty is also to cast out devils and heal the sick, just as Christ commissioned the twelve disciples to do. Furthermore, we must not prioritise financial gains over lost souls. Rather, we should seek to save the lost, occupy until He returns and reap the ready harvest.
We must seize the opportunity now to preach salvation to the lost and not allow any challenge to hinder us from performing our divine task. We need to be serious with this assignment so that the Lord will not have controversy with us on judgment day due to the cry of unsaved souls.
• Further reading (King James Version): 2 Timothy 2:19-26. 2 Timothy 2:20; John 10:12,13; Isaiah 56:10,11; Ezekiel 34:1,2,4; Jeremiah 23:13,14,4; Jonah 1:1-3; 2:7-10; 3:1-3; Acts 9:26-28; James 5:19,20. 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Matthew 9:36-38; 10:6-8; Luke 10:1,2; Mark 6:12,13; Jeremiah 5:24; 8:20-22; 12:5; 50:6; Luke 19:10,13; John 4:34-38.