John Part 21 & 22 The Subject Of Labor For God, John 4:31-42 Series

John Part 21 & 22 The Subject of Labor for God, 4:31–42

(4:31–42) Introduction: the believer is to labor for God. His life is to be focused upon the will and work of God. His purpose for being on earth is to serve God, to obey and work for Him.

1. Physical vs. spiritual concerns (vv.31–35).

2. Labor—for the harvest is ripe, the task is urgent (v.35).

3. Labor—for there are rewards and great benefits (vv.36–38).

4. Labor—for results follow (vv.39–42).

1 (4:31–35) Concern, Physical vs. Spiritual—God, Work—Diligence—Faithfulness—Commitment: physical vs. spiritual concerns. The disciples returned from town. They had gone to buy food (v.8). Earlier, when they had arrived at the well on the outskirts of the city, Jesus had been tired and hungry. But now, as the disciples sat eating, they noticed Jesus made no effort to eat. He had been famished and exhausted. They were concerned, so they suggested He eat. Note two significant points.

a. The concern of the disciples was for physical nourishment. Their minds were not on the woman to whom Jesus had just witnessed, not on her spiritual needs. They had no spiritual depth yet. Their minds were not …

• focused on Christ and His mission of salvation

• concentrating upon a world lost in sin and shame

• looking for every opportunity possible to reach and help people for God

They had not yet learned the great warfare being waged between the physical and spiritual concerns of life. Their minds were on the physical: on food, on not missing a meal, on satisfying a temporary craving of the body.

b. The concern of Christ was for spiritual food and nourishment, to do the will and work of God. Three points are seen in this verse.

1) The will that must concern men is God’s will, and the work that must concern men is God’s work, the will and work of …

• leading people to the Living Water (Jn. 4:10)

• helping people quench their inner thirst (Jn. 4:14)

• bringing people to God

• seeking and saving the lost, even Samaritans: those who are looked upon with prejudice, thought to be of a lower caste, treated as the most despicable outcasts (Lu. 19:10)

No greater will or work exists or can be done. God alone is God. His will and work is supreme.

? Note the esteem with which Christ holds God: it is God’s will and work that is to be done.

? Note the devotion of Christ to God: God’s will and work must be done.

2) God sent Christ. The words “sent me” are significant Christ was not sent to do the will of men, but of God. His work was not the work of men, but of God.

Thought 1. Note two lessons.

(1) Note the warning to all believers. Believers are sent by God. They are to be single-minded. They are not to allow their goals and energy to become entangled with the business and affairs of the world.

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Ti. 2:4).

(2) Note the mission to all believers. Believers are sent by God. They are on earth primarily to do the will and work of God, even in their secular labor in the world.

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (Jn. 20:21).

“Let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth” (Ep. 4:28).

3) Christ had to finish the will and work of God. God expected it to be completed. God expected obedience, faithfulness and perseverance until His will and work was done. Note: Christ did complete God’s mission (Jn. 17:4; 19:30). He now challenges His followers: “Labor for God—finish your task—complete your purpose for being on earth.”

Thought 1. Note two warnings.

(1) Note the responsibility and duty of believers. Believers are expected to finish the work that God sent them to do. Believers are not to become entangled and distracted by worldly affairs. They are to conquer wandering thoughts and desires, cravings for food, complacency, sleepiness. They are not to be given over to the world and the flesh, indulgence and license, money and material possessions.

(2) Note the accountability of believers: God expects believers to be faithful, so there has to be a day of accounting, a day when wages are paid out.

2 (4:35) Vision—Evangelism: labor, for the harvest is ripe, the task is urgent. Note three points.

a. The heart of Jesus was upon the harvest of souls. Men focus their hearts upon the world’s harvest, the planting of seed and the reaping of grain, the investment of energy and money, and the receiving of wages and gain. But the heart of Jesus was, and still is, upon people, upon the planting of the gospel seed and the reaping of souls for God.