These are very appropriate examples. Making known the gospel is a warfare; not just for preachers, for all of us. We are all engaged in this. The chief thing in the life of every Christian is to make known the gospel. We are at war with our adversary, the devil, and we are fighting in the Lord’s army. We have been saved by the blood of Christ. He has set his eternal love upon us; he has come from heaven to earth to suffer and die for us; he has purchased us, transformed our lives; he has given us eternal bliss. He has also put upon every child of God a burden to make him known, and to represent him, and it is a battle, a warfare, because people – just as we once were – are extremely resistant to this message. And sometimes it leads to great disadvantages for us. It is an apt example for pastors and evangelists, for all Christian workers.
Christian work is like that: digging the ground, putting in the plants; something that has to be done laboriously. And then watching over the vineyard, or the farm, keeping at it, doing everything in due season. We plant the gospel; work round the neighbourhood, very carefully, very judiciously, giving people tracts and putting in a word, as we can. We pray for opportunities – this is like planting a vineyard. ‘Or who feedeth a flock?’ – think of the care of the shepherd, especially to protect the flock. ‘Similarly,’ says the apostle Paul, ‘the worker should be supported.’