Jeremy Haroldson delivers an urgent wake-up call using ancient wisdom from Matthew 9:35-38. This isn't abstract philosophy—it's a practical roadmap for anyone feeling stuck, purposeless, or overwhelmed by the world's problems. Discover why YOU specifically matter and how to translate that awareness into concrete action.
Effective change-makers don't cherry-pick their audience. The text emphasizes visiting "all the towns and villages"—not just the wealthy, not just the marginalized, not just the religious or non-religious. Why? Because real impact is never exclusive. When you truly believe in your mission, you take it to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs.
Key principle: "I don't care who you are, you're inside"—if you choose to be part of the solution. The power lies in the choice, not in gatekeeping.
Here's where the lecture gets provocative: the text says "all" repeatedly—healing every disease and sickness. Not some. Not most. All. Why does this matter? Because we've normalized partial success. We say "well, you know, only some people change." But history shows us moments where everyone who showed up was transformed. The bottleneck isn't capacity—it's belief and commitment.
This is the emotional core of the message. At a children's dance recital with 300+ attendees, the speaker had a sobering realization: "How many of these people are living with clear purpose and active engagement in positive change?" The honest answer: not many.
"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Society is drowning in potential—problems to solve, people to help, ideas to implement—but there's a critical shortage of people willing to actually do the work.
Many organizations operate on the assumption that 20% of people will do 80% of the work. But what if that's a self-fulfilling prophecy? The speaker describes a community where everyone is engaged—they "don't know the 80/20 rule." The challenge: What if we're all called to be in the 20%?
Modern society makes one of two critical errors:
The danger of the second mistake: "We want everyone to feel included, but we're not actually making them part of something real." Inclusion without transformation is just comfortable apathy with better marketing.
Hard truth: Many well-intentioned people will reach the end of their lives without having made the impact they could have—not because they lacked opportunity, but because they never truly chose to commit.
Here's the transformative insight: When people truly understand their potential for impact, nothing will stop them from maximizing it. They will feel a "great, overwhelming urgency to work while it is still day."
This isn't manufactured guilt—it's the natural response to recognizing that:
Why do effective leaders act? The text reveals: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless."
Action springs from genuine concern, not obligation. When you truly see the field of opportunity around you—exhausted colleagues, struggling neighbors, unsolved problems—and let yourself feel compassion rather than numbness, the question changes from "Should I do something?" to "How quickly can I start?"
Perfect for:
Key Scripture Reference: Matthew 9:35-38
"He went through all the towns and villages, teaching, proclaiming good news, and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field.'"