Successful Workers

by Chris Simmons

Having stated in Matthew chapter 9 the need to identify workers that can be sent “into His harvest,” Jesus then commissions and prepares His chosen twelve apostles for the work of preaching the good news about the kingdom which was then “at hand” (Matthew 10:7). The meaning of the words “sent out” in verse 5, which comes from the verb apostello (from which we get the word “apostle”), is to send as a representative or to commission someone and that the one sending is actually acting through those sent. Throughout Matthew chapter 10, Jesus identifies several attributes or characteristics that would enable His representatives to be successful in the work for which they were sent and which will ensure our ability to succeed in our walk as children of God.

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 lives.
   
   
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, “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.”

In I Corinthians 15:58, having previously described our ability to gain “the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 57), Paul exhorts each and every child of God to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Our “work of the Lord” will be successful only if we labor with wisdom, courage, endurance, boldness, allegiance, and sacrifice while putting the Lord first.