Reaping and Sowing ... What's My Job?

At the end of the story about his visit with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus says to his disciples:

Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying "One sows and another reaps" is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor. (John 4:36-38 NIV)

As with most of the passages of the Bible, it makes me wonder ....

How many people have come before me and how many will come after me impressing Jesus into the hearts of the people I will interact with today? I have always breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I am not responsible, or capable, of saving others. But, I have never considered my responsibility for "sowing" in light of the others who have had (and those who will have) contact with the same souls I do each day. If I don't do my part, I rationalize, the Lord will surely fill in the gap, right? But, oh, if I do my part, perhaps another person on this planet may find abundant life with Christ eventually, or at least sooner, or maybe even today. I may even be the last nudge that is needed.

But, read that passage again. What exactly is "the hard work" according to Jesus?

When I consider the reaping/sowing analogy, it is MUCH more than sharing the Gospel. To "benefit" from the labor of reaping, the trees, rocks, and brush must be removed. The soil must be prepared. The seed must be planted. And it doesn't end there. The new growth needs to be watered and pruned and fertilized. Now, I know this is not a new concept. But, it strikes me that this sowing, while it is so much bigger than I am, demands my meager participation nonetheless.

I know I can carry groceries, pay for meals, and be nice to check-out ladies. That's easy.
But here's the question:
Am I willing to do "the hard work?"
Will I take the time to remove stumbling blocks? Heal old wounds? Clearly explain the Gospel? Teach? Share? Trust the Holy Spirit to guide me? And humbly acknowledge the Lord as the motive and master of it all?

Perhaps I need to take my sowing responsibilities more seriously.

I shared the passage above with a couple of my fellow Bible geeks and here are a few wonderful tidbits they added:

We are part of a great RIVER of messengers that God sends to us and pulls us into to flow to others.
Love that analogy, Nancy. Sometimes it is dry. Sometimes it overflows. There are rocks, creatures, twists, and turns along the way. 

Julie sent me thoughts by Gerard Sloyan: "Subsequent laborers profit from the exertions of those who went before them. The sentiment is important in all church work whether of the laity or clergy, where the unconscious yearning for human glory interferes seriously with promotion of God's glory." He goes on to look at it in a different light, suggesting that perhaps John was telling the early church in Samaria that they shouldn't "feel like heroes if [they] experience easy harvesting in Samaria; there have been Hellenistic Jews and early Christians already at work for some time."

Jan just emailed me a great quote by author Tim Downs: "By sowing, I mean the slow, gradual, behind-the-scenes work that prepares a listener—or an entire culture—to be able to hear the gospel." Jan says her "prayer is that I will listen for His voice leading me to the exact place that He needs me to go, and that I will say and/or do something that will point someone to Him." May we hear that voice often!

THOUGHTS? Would love to hear them. Let this living Word capture your head and heart and share how/if it convicts you.