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Essential Characteristics Of The Lord’s Workers

by Chris Simmons

Having identified in Matthew 9:36-38 the need to identify workers that can be sent “into His harvest,” Jesus identified, commissioned, prepared, and then sent His chosen apostles for that very work in Matthew chapter 10. It’s interesting to note that the word for “sent” in Matthew 10:5 is from the verb apostello from which we get the word “apostle” which means more than casually sending someone on a task, but to send as an official representative or commissioner. The one sending is actually acting through those sent. They were first “sent” to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6). Also of interest is the fact that this is the first (but certainly not the last) time in Jesus’ ministry that He refers to other people as being “lost.” Later in His ministry in Luke 19:10, Jesus stated that seeking and saving the lost was the reason He had come down from heaven. Though it might include being misguided and lacking direction, the word for lost has a much more sober definition. It means: “to destroy fully … perish …” (Strong), or “put an end to … give over to eternal misery … destroy” (Thayer). Jesus came and He sends His workers to seek those who are being destroyed and perishing in their sin.

In sending His workers, what is Jesus sending them to do? First, to preach that the kingdom of heaven is at hand (verse 7; Acts 8:12). Second, to perform the miracles that will validate their message (verse 8; Hebrews 2:4). Third, to not focus on, or worry about, the physical things of life (verses 9-10; Matthew 6:31-34). Fourth, to make the most of their opportunities by seeking those who are “worthy” or who would receive the word of God (verses 11-14; Acts 2:41; 17:11; I Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:21).

If the Lord’s workers are to be successful, Jesus then identifies in the remaining portion of Matthew chapter 10, several essential attributes:

  1. Wisdom. In verse 16, Jesus said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.” There are times that the Lord’s workers must be “shrewd as serpents” among such wolves and other times the need to be “innocent as doves.” We need to pray for the wisdom (from above, James 4:17) to discern the need for both in our life.

  2. Courage. In verses 17-18, Jesus said, “But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.” We need courage to face threats such as those Jesus said His workers would face. In Philippians 1:14, Paul spoke of how his commitment to proclaim God’s word during his imprisonment proved to help others to “have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”

  3. Endurance. In verse 22, Jesus said, “You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” It’s one thing to be courageous in a single moment, but what about when it continues? The Hebrew writer, in Hebrews 10:35-36 reminds Christians, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Jesus wants to make sure His workers are in it until the end!

  4. Boldness. In verses 27-28, Jesus said, “What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus needs His workers not to be shy or timid in relaying to their audiences the truths that God has revealed. Even the apostle Paul understood the need to pray for this characteristic as we read in Ephesians 6:19-20.

  5. Allegiance. In verses 32-33 Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” Jesus needs workers who are both anxious and willing to let others know that they belong to Jesus Christ. Jesus needs workers who will not only proclaim their devotion (Mark 14:31) but follow through on it (Mark 14:66ff).

  6. Prioritization. In verses 34-36, Jesus’ warning hits a little closer to home when He says, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Jesus wants to make sure that His workers put their devotion to Him (and the work) above all else including those closest to them in this life.

  7. Sacrifice. In verse 38, Jesus said, “And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” Luke 14:27 adds that this sacrifice is not a one-time event but a daily practice. Jesus is not talking about His dealing with burdens and challenges of life in general. Jesus is speaking of a choice we make to die to self and absolutely surrender our will to His. This is the sacrifice that Paul spoke of in Romans 12:1-2, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” This sacrifice is to be so complete that we in essence and in all practicality “lose our life.” For Jesus followed in verse 39 to say, “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

These are the qualities that the child of God must have and display to be a useful worker in the Lord’s kingdom (II Timothy 2:21). It is a high calling indeed of every Christian and worthy of our continual pursuit every day of our lives. May we seek God’s forgiveness where we have failed to demonstrate these qualities in the past and renew our commitment to them every day we are blessed with.

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