Unemployed Christians
Colossians 3: 23-24)

Have you ever looked for a job, and place after place would say, "Don't call us -- will call you!"
This can cause you to feel of no value to anyone.
If you have ever been there, you know that unemployment is hard work.
The hardest part is the effect it has on the emotions.
You watch as your neighbors leave for work, and you wish that you had a job.
This is serious because there is no money coming in, and bills are piling up.

Unemployment in the church is also a serious matter.
Unfortunately, the problem is not because there is no work to do for the work is plentiful,
and more than we can do.
The world is full of hazards, traps, snares, and detours that cause the Lord's laborers
to stop laboring.
And many never bother to enter the work force in the first place.

One pastor asked a pastor friend of a large church, "How many members are there in your church?"
The pastor answered, "Close to 5000."
Then, he was asked another question.
"How many are involved?"
How many are serving in the choir, work in Sunday School, usher, serve on committees, are deacons,
work with children... serve anywhere.

The pastor answered, "Probably, around 1500 people."

That left 3500 people with nothing to do -- unemployed.

Another pastor was asked, "How many members were in his church?"
His answer, "Around 800."

Then, he was asked how many of those have jobs in the church.
He answered, "Well, I've never thought about it, but I would guess about 300."

That means there were 500 people in the church with nothing to do.
The jobs were all taken.
The committees were full.
The choir was packed.
The Sunday school was fully staffed.
Perhaps, there was a stray job here and there, and of course, some people had more
than one position.
But hundreds of people were just sitting there with nothing to do.

Nothing, that is, if church work is all there is to the Lord's work.
However, there are two ways to work for the Lord.
First, there is church work which is important.
Second, there is the work of the church.
It is in this second field of work that the average man and woman in the pew should be working.

If each of those 5000 or 800 or 300 "unemployed" church members saw themselves
as a person called and commissioned by Christ to carry the gospel into the world,
there is more work that all of us can do. (Matthew 28: 19, 20) (Mark 16:15)
If the objective of every Christian was to become a spiritually, qualified laborer,
we would all be up to our necks in work!

Those who never go to work for Christ are already all the casualty list.
But what about growing disciples who become well-equipped, spiritually. qualified laborers?
They are reaching the lost, and helping people grow, and tragedy occurs.
They quit laboring.
They walk off the job.
They hand in their resignations.

The tragedy is doubled because the laborers are so few, and the harvest is so great.
Why does this happen?
What causes people to "give notice", and leave the harvest field.
Let us look at a few reasons.

One reason many leave is crop failure.

Sometimes a worker works long and hard, but sees no results.
A prolonged "dry spell" leaves him discouraged.
He seemed to do everything right, but to no avail.
He witnessed consistently, but no one has come to Christ.
After praying for and working with the new Christians, he sees no progress.
Finally, out of sheer desperation and despair, he simply quits.

We don't know why such dry spells occur -- remember Noah.
Maybe there are times God wants to do more in us than through us.
He could be testing our faith.
Whatever the cause, "dry spells" can cause the disheartened worker to leave the field.

Even when a worker has led a generally fruitful life, there are times when the ministry
seems to dry up.
This, of course, is no new problem.
Remember the testimony of Habakkuk:
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls;
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
(Habakkuk 3: 17-18)

At one point in his life, Habakkuk looked on the fields and they were barren.
The fig tree, a prime source of food, was withered.
The olive tree was not producing.
Acres of land, which should have been lush with waving grain, were like deserts.
Even the cattle were dying.

But he continued to place his hope in God, and to rejoice in spite of adversity.
That is not easy.
But when the laborer surrenders his own ideas of success and remembers God is his true source
of joy and satisfaction, he can continue to enter the field with an expectant heart.
Crop failure need not drive the worker from the field.

Another reason many leave the harvest field is fatigue.

Weariness is a major problem that affects many.
Strangely enough, however, much fatigue is self-caused.
The laborer is often a highly motivated individual who sees his work as important,
and sees himself as a vital factor in it.
So, he tackles the job with vigor and enthusiasm, but doesn't know how to pace himself.
Because his work is so important, he doesn't "pamper" himself with time-outs,
days off, or vacations.
So, he goes and goes, and has a difficult time admitting that he needs to slow down.

But even Jesus got tired and sat down to rest awhile:
"Jesus therefore, being wearied with His journey, sat thus on the well." (John 4: 6)
And one point in His training of the twelve, Jesus prescribed a break in the schedule.
"And He said unto them, 'Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile:'
for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."
(Mark 6: 31)

I have heard it said that "unless we occasionally come apart, we will come apart."
Jesus knew this and saw the need to pace activities.
Apparently, the lesson was not lost on these men; though they were highly motivated people
involved in the greatest work on earth, we do not read of any of them leaving the field
due to fatigue.

Thinking that nobody cares is another reason many leave the harvest field.
Let us say that some workers in a local church are giving themselves wholeheartedly to witnessing
and following up.
They are having moderate success.
Maybe each one has led at least one person to Christ.
Each is excited.
But these workers are not recognized.
The choir receives well-earned praise.
The Sunday school workers are honored...
But this "unofficial' worker is ignored.

Now we must understand these workers are not witnessing in order to be seen and praised
by others, but they do need a pat on the back every now and then.
They continue to work, and it seems that their work is unappreciated.
And those to whom they are witnessing don't seem to care.

Eventually, one or more of these workers grow discouraged.
They seemed to feel: "Why are we doing this, if no one cares?"
Any worker who thinks or says that must remember Paul's advice:
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, and not unto men;
knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3: 23-24)

Keep on, keeping on!
Keep working for the Lord!
Keep witnessing to those without Christ!
It really pleases Christ!

Another reason workers leave the harvest is an off-centered life.
Like every believer the worker is to live a Christ-centered life.
This should be easily understood by the growing disciple.
He is urged to get his roots down into Christ. (Colossians 2: 7)
The focus of his discipling is to help establish a deep and abiding fellowship with Christ
in new converts.
But when he enters the labor force, he can be subtly led away from being
Christ-centered to being ministry-centered.

After all, the command is there to perform ministry -- to preach the gospel
to everyone, and make disciples of all nations. (Mark 16:15) (Matthew 28:18-20)
To do the Lord's work takes thought, creativity, energy, new approaches, prayer, and dedication.
With all that to preoccupy us, we can see how easy it would be for our own focus
to shift from Christ Himself to Christ's work.
That change of focus contains the seeds of disaster.
The ministry must not be our master -- Christ is our Master.
Remember, Jesus said that no one can serve two masters. (Matthew 6: 24)

Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can comfort and encourage our hearts,
but if the ministry dominates our lives, it can run us ragged.
Paul pointed out that Christ is our life. (Colossians 3: 4)
He told the church at Philippi: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
(Philippians 1:21)

Dawson Trotman said, "Never get so involved in the work of the Kingdom
that you don't have time for the King."

We must be encouraged as we fulfill the responsibilities God has given us
whether we are encouragers or evangelists; whether we are ushers or deacons;
whether we are teachers or preachers.
In the words of Paul, "Let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not." (Galatians 6: 9)

There is no need for any Christian to be unemployed in the work of the Lord.
There is so much to be done, and there is something for every Christian to do.
Let's do it!

Sermon adapted by Dr. Harold L. White