Soul-winning for the LORD refers to evangelism. But there is a new teaching now that if I want an express harvest, I should sow seeds to soul-winning. John chapter 4 verse 35 was the reference.

Is it true that my blessings (wealth, achievement in business/job, happy home etc.) would get to me faster if I give my money for soul-winning?

Today’s message would answer the question above and explain the difference between physical and spiritual harvesting.  

Physical and Spiritual Harvest

I studied John chapter 4 in context and content and the earlier verses of was about soul-winning exercise of Jesus Christ to the Samaritan woman. The woman went into the city to continue the spread of the Gospel and the crowd were ready (ripe) to accept Jesus as their saviour.

So, when the event got to the stage of John chapter 4 verse 35, Jesus says: “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”

The content of the passage is the (ready-to-accept-salvation) crowd approaching Jesus and the context of verse 35 is clear:

The first part of verse 35 was about the physical harvesting (Human gains) while the second part was about the spiritual harvesting (LORD’S gains).

…. lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest…. Jesus told His disciples to lift their eyes and see the ripe Samaritans approaching Him for salvation.

The planting and harvesting for soul-winning are very fast and the only earner in this harvest is GOD. Yes, there are rewards for the givers but they are not partaker of the harvest. (Because givers for soul-winning are labourers, they shall be paid by the LORD)

The events recorded in John chapter 4 was plainly ministering (seed) to people and they gave their lives to the LORD (harvesting).

Example of Soul-winning investment

For more clarity, let me give an example: “If I invest 100k into evangelism today and the funds was put into use at a village which influence 40 people and 10 souls gave their lives to God the same day. Follow up was done after two weeks and additional 20 souls became born again…”

The field Jesus is referring to in my example is the 40 people.

The seed here is the ministration of the Good News to the 40 people including the help rendered.

The ‘already white for harvest’ Jesus refers to in my example is the 30 souls who surrendered their lives to Jesus.  

Note: All events in John chapter 4 does not capture my own part as the investor of 100k for evangelism. Yes, the 100k is a seed and must have harvest too which was recorded in Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 to 21:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

The Ministry of Jesus had many sponsors, in fact the evangelism that took place in John chapter 4 was well funded because the disciples went to buy food so that all of them can have strength to continue ministration…but Jesus didn’t mention that the harvest was for the sponsors.

The harvest in John chapter 4 (both content and context) is not for the gain of anyone but for God alone.

So, it is wrong for you to believe the teachers who say that if you want a faster physical blessing then you should invest in soul-winning.

Note: As Christians, our funds belong to God. We give back to Him through Evangelism but Jesus never meant in John chapter 4 that we would reap our physical gains faster than usual. The faster harvest HE meant was souls gained to the LORD. Soul winning is an investment for heavenly gains.

There is no dispute that if you sow seed in the Lord’s vineyard, you would reap bountiful harvest, but the time for your harvest (physical and spiritual gains) cannot be influenced. The LORD would give at the right time, it may be instant or planned.

Finally, soul-winning cannot help reduce the time between your seed and harvest time because soul winning is for spiritual harvesting while your seed is for physical (and heavenly) harvesting. Jehovah determines the time for All Things.