WORKERS

Matthew 9:37,38—Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

It was a bright and hot Saturday outside Palm Springs as my family wandered through the Living Desert. Inside one of the exhibits we encountered a fascinating tunnel system full of Heterocephalus glabers—naked mole rats. These pale rodents are the only known mammals that live in a eusocial (truly social) system. All members of the group huddle together when sleeping in colonies that may consist of 20-300 creatures. Like bees, ants and termites, naked mole rats divide into classes of hierarchy. First in order is the dominant queen who may have up to five litters in a year with 1-27 newborns. Next, there are one to three breeding males followed by two to three soldiers who protect and care for the colony. Finally, there are many workers. These asexual workers exist to dig the tunnels and find food. A mole rat can live 15-20 years in captivity and has the strongest jaw muscles for a mammal its size.

The queen spends her life having sex with three studs to populate a colony guarded by buff rats. In a world infatuated with caste systems and hierarchy the cry is, “Pity the poor workers!” But, if it were not for them the queen and her entourage would not survive! Even God requires workers. God’s need has always been for people committed to obeying Him and doing what He wills. Instead of supernaturally positing truth in the hearts of all mankind, God uses people to spread His message.

If you are doing what God wants you to do, then you are surrounded by opportunities to expand His kingdom. Why be enamored with the position or status of others and bemoan your own circumstances? You can make an eternal difference right where you are by determining to let God work through you today and tomorrow. Heaven will be full of stories from people we never heard of wearing radiant crowns for their faithful work in the valleys where light was sparse, fog was thick and suffering a familiar acquaintance. May you be a worker who hears the Lord’s commendation—“Well done!”

Inspiration

The first requirement of the worker is discipline voluntarily entered into. It is easy to be passionate, easy to be thrilled by spiritual influences, but it takes a heart in love with Jesus Christ to put the feet in His footprints and to square the life to a steady “going up to Jerusalem” with Him.—Oswald Chambers in Approved Unto God

Source information: (http://www.lpzoo.com/tour/factsheets/mammals/naked_mole_rat.html)