Having a sense of urgency about the wrong or selfish things (ie, money acquisition) would be very detrimental. The Bible says...
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed. The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death. A person with good sense is respected; a treacherous person is headed for destruction. Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness." Proverbs 13:11-16 nlt
- Proverbs 28:20 (NLT): "The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble".
- Proverbs 13:11 (NLT): "Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time".
- Proverbs 28:22 (NCV): "Selfish people are in a hurry to get rich and do not realize they soon will be poor".
- 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV): "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil".
- Proverbs 21:5 (ESV): "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty".
- Proverbs 23:4-5 (ESV): "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven".
- Proverbs 13:10 (always see the whole context): "Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised. 11Dishonest wealth will dwindle, but what is earned through hard work will be multiplied."
Q: How has it been on farms at harvest time? Well, all perifery tasks and most duties are halted in order for the reapers to go quickly work at getting the harvest in before it all spoils on the vine so to speak.
The brevity of life here should really sober you up, believer or non-believer (I remember Billy Graham explaining this).
Christian, do you have a sense of urgency about you.. as you live all in for God and look to win people to His Son, the Jesus of the Bible? Jesus is the only one who saves sinners like me, but you indeed have a part to play if you are a real Christian.
What are the differences between guilt cultures and innocence cultures, and shame or honor cultures?
Come as you are to Christ.. with a willingness for Him to change you from the inside out. Too many so called believers won't do that. They allegedly come to Him, but keep living in selfishness (sin). God starts His sanctification work inside from day one in His Kingdom.
What is sanctification.. and what is to come before that?
What does it mean that time is short in 1 Corinthians 7:29)?
Justification vs sanctification—what's the dif?
What is positional sanctification?
What does it mean to be a Bible-thumper and “pound the pulpit”?
Why do Christians believe in Spirit-led biblical proselytization?
What does it mean that the workers are few (Matthew 9:37)?
How does God judge people raised in non-Christian cultures?
What is the ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5:18)?
What is the Lausanne Covenant?
Is there any scriptural basis for praying on behalf of the unsaved?
What was that “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon like?
What are signs of the end times?
Live sober--it's better. So what does it mean to be sober-minded?
What are some Bible verses about sanctification?
What is entire sanctification?
How are justification, sanctification, and glorification related?
Is forgiveness available for any and all of my sin?
Is there a good argument for the need for urgency in ever Chrsitian? Yes, it's what God wants us to sense as we live the life in Christ.
If you are a lukewarm, or worldly, or carnal, merely religious, or a nominal believer (dead inside, a believer one in name only a.k.a. a non-believer headed for that horrible Lake), then something is wrong and needs to be address -- guess what, you will not sense an urgency from the Holy Spirit inside you nor His joy like you ought to. In addressing that lame condition -- sooner is better than later.
Don't wait, don't put it off: What will do with God's Son. Ask God for true repentance and saving faith. Ask Him to forgive, and change you inside, because that is not how he wants any believer to live. All believers are to be and to give witness unto the glory of God. We don't win people to self, to church, or to a denomination per se; we are here (primarily) to know, to worship acceptably, to enjoy, and to win (with His urgency) lost sinners to Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Rescuer and we are to be rescuers (small r, big c for compassion) as well. This rescuing and living as an example is to sttart at home, and then impact others outwardly as we prioritize relationships.
We are to witness domestically and internationally in some way that God leads us to. A rescuer who is not wise in applying the Scriptures in love, a rescuer who lacks urgency in how they live or reach out to others, is not an effective rescuer. How can you even be a rescuer without urgency unless what you are rescuing them from (i.e., a carnivorous diet) is not that important to be rescued from? Eternity is at stake and Jesus in God the Father's only way.
IF THE GOSPEL YOU'RE PREACHING ISN'T OFFENDING PEOPLE, I DOUBT SERIOUSLY IF YOU'RE PREACHING THE GOSPEL! THE GOSPEL IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFFENSIVE TO A SINNER!
"FOR THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, BUT TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS THE POWER OF GOD!" 1 COR 1:18
The Fields Are White: Seeing What Jesus Sees
The grace of God when we are walking in the will of God.. gives us the strength we need to do our job during the great harvest all around us.
Salvation is to the inner person what health is to the body. The boy would have died had Jesus not intervened and given him health. The father heard (v. 47), believed (v. 50), and knew (v. 53), which is a normal Christian experience.
Jesus won the woman at the well and then she wanted to go tell others. The woman won many Samaritans; and the father won his whole household (see the context). Are you saying, not saying and doing what God wants you to be wisely busy with in the harvest?
"Do you not say, ‘It is still four months until the harvest comes?’ Look, I say to you, raise your eyes and look at the fields and see, they are white for harvest. Already the reaper is receiving his wages and he is gathering fruit for eternal life; so that he who plants and he who reaps may rejoice together." John 4.35-36 amp
When there's a ripe harvest field sitting out there, there needs to be a sense of urgency. There's very limited time to reap it. The owner of the field does not want a great loss. Who in their right mind would want to suffer loss?
Jesus still is a good example. Remember when Jesus shared with that lost woman at the well?
That lady had expressed interest in the living water (even though confused), the woman found herself confronted with her sins. Christ’s command, “Go, call your husband!” (NKJV) was for the purpose of quickening her conscience and forcing her to face her own sin. No person can ever be saved who hides his sins. (See Prov. 28:13.) Note how the woman tried to change the topic of conversation! Like convicted sinners today, she began to argue about differences in religion! “Where should we worship?” “Which religion is right?” Jesus pointed out that the important thing is knowing the Father, and this can be done only through salvation, and salvation is of the Jews. He has now brought her face-to-face with her sins, her desire for satisfaction, and the emptiness of her own religious faith. “This is indeed the Christ!” (vv. 25–42).
Her eyes are now opened to the Person of Christ, and on the authority of His Word, she trusts Him and is saved. She proves her faith by giving public testimony to the people in the town (and they certainly knew her character); and they too came to trust Him. Note the final testimony of these believers, “This is indeed the Savior of the world!” It is interesting to note the disciples’ behavior in this chapter.
They are more concerned about physical food than spiritual food. Christ was weary (v. 6) and thirsty, and certainly hungry; but He put spiritual matters above physical comfort. While the disciples were out buying food (a good thing), Christ was winning souls (a far better thing). The disciples, on coming to Samaria, had probably said, “We can never win anyone here. These people are hard-hearted and enemies of our people.” But Christ told them to look on the fields that were white to harvest. He reminded them that all of God’s people must work together in the harvest field, some to sow, others to reap. It is God who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:5–9).
We might note the example Christ sets as a soul-winner. He did not allow personal prejudices or physical needs to hinder Him. He met this woman in a friendly way and did not force her into a decision. Wisely, He guided the conversation and allowed the Word to take effect in her heart. He dealt with her privately and lovingly presented the way of salvation. He captured her attention by speaking about something common and at hand—water—and used this as an illustration of eternal life. (Likewise, at the cool midnight hour, He spoke to Nicodemus about wind.) He did not avoid speaking of sin, but brought her face-to-face with her need.
Life moves faster than we expect. One blink, one season, one breath—and we are already older than we planned to be. Scripture is unflinching about this reality: “You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14). That truth should sober both believer and unbeliever alike.
Jesus never wasted words on trivial matters, and He never wasted time. When He said, “Lift up your eyes and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35), He was not offering poetry for poetry’s sake. He was announcing urgency. Souls were ready. Eternity was near. Delay was dangerous.
What Does “White for Harvest” Even Mean?
In the ancient world, grain turned pale—almost white—when it was fully ripe. To delay harvest at that moment meant loss. Jesus used that familiar image to teach a spiritual reality: people were ready now. Not four months from now. Not after better timing. Not when it felt convenient. Now.
After Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, an unlikely revival broke out. A woman with a broken past became a bold witness. Her testimony—simple, honest, unpolished—sent an entire town streaming toward Christ. While the disciples worried about lunch, Jesus was feasting on obedience:
“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).
The contrast is striking. The disciples were focused on physical needs. Jesus was consumed with eternal ones.
Some commentators note that the Samaritan crowd approaching Jesus may have been dressed in light-colored robes, forming what looked like a living, moving harvest—white against the earth and sky. Whether literal or symbolic, the meaning is clear: people were ready to hear the truth.
And many believed. “Many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:39).
The Harvest Has Always Been God’s Language
Scripture repeatedly uses harvest imagery to describe God’s saving work (Isaiah 27:12; Joel 3:13; Amos 9:13; Matthew 9:37; Luke 10:2; Revelation 14:14–16). Harvest is not random; it is intentional, timely, and urgent.
Jesus echoed this again in Matthew 9:36–38:
“When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd… ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’”
Compassion always precedes commission. If urgency is absent, compassion has cooled.
Urgency Is a Mark of Real Spiritual Life
A faith with no urgency is a faith that has lost sight of eternity. A lukewarm, worldly, nominal Christianity—Christian in name but not in nature—will not burn with the Spirit’s concern for the lost (Revelation 3:15–16).
Jesus saves sinners. He alone rescues. But He chooses to work through redeemed people. We do not save anyone—but we do witness. We do not convert hearts—but we do proclaim truth. God has ordained both the ends and the means (John 4:36–38).
Paul put it plainly: “Now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Rescuers with Compassion—and a Voice
The church rightly celebrates ministries that are the “hands and feet of Jesus.” Feeding the hungry. Freeing the enslaved. Healing the sick. Caring for the poor. These are beautiful reflections of Christ’s mercy.
But Scripture never allows us to separate compassion from proclamation.
If we give clean water but never speak of the Water of Life (John 4:10; 7:37), something is missing.
If we rescue people from human trafficking but never tell them how to be freed from slavery to sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:6), the rescue is incomplete.
If we educate children but never tell them the truth that sets them free (John 8:32), we leave them prepared for life—but not for eternity.
As one lesser-known missionary wisely said,
“Mercy that never speaks of Christ may soothe the body but abandons the soul.”
The Great Commission is not optional, nor is it vague:
“Go therefore and make disciples… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).
Yes, we are the hands and feet of Jesus—but ultimately, we must also be His mouth.
Be a Real Witness in Christ, Not Using The World's Manipulative Salesmanship
Evangelism is not persuasion; it is proclamation. A witness tells what he has seen, heard, and experienced (Acts 1:8). The Greek word for witness—martys—is where we get martyr. The early church did not market Christianity; they testified to it, often at the cost of their lives.
When evangelism becomes technique-driven rather than Spirit-dependent, truth gets softened, sin gets minimized, and results get manufactured. But Scripture is clear:
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation” (Romans 1:16).
Salvation is God’s work. New birth is the Spirit’s miracle (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Our calling is faithfulness, not forcefulness.
As Charles Spurgeon once said,
“The Holy Spirit is not a silent partner in salvation—He is the power.”
Why Motivation Fades—and How It Returns
When the gospel is reduced to self-improvement rather than soul-rescue, urgency dies. Barna research consistently shows that many professing Christians struggle to articulate the gospel clearly, often seeing evangelism as optional or intimidating rather than essential. When sin, judgment, repentance, and Christ’s exclusivity are downplayed, passion inevitably cools.
But when Christ is central—crucified, risen, reigning—fire returns.
Paul reminded the Corinthians: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). Different roles. One mission. One Lord of the harvest.
The Church Needs Fuel from The Word for the Right Kind of Burning Hearts
Passion for souls grows where love for Christ deepens.
Read His Word daily. Pray continually. Stay near the cross. Remember what you were saved from—and what you were saved for. The more clearly we grasp Calvary, the more urgently we speak of Christ.
Isaac Watts captured it well in the hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:
“Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”
Time Is Short. Eternity Is VERY Long.
Once we cross the eternal horizon, the opportunity to witness ends. No second chances. No rewinds. “How will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14).
The world is weary, anxious, and searching. The peace of God that guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7) is the same peace offered to them—if only they hear.
There is no higher calling than serving the One who died that we might live. Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). And His command is clear: love God, love people, and proclaim the gospel.
The fields are white.
The workers are few.
The time is now.
Charles H. Spurgeon
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“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our dead bodies.”
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“Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.”
Are you a missionary type or a mission-field? Either evangelize or fossilize. You aren't standing still spiritually -- you are either going forward with Jesus leading or going backwards spiritually. Why digress spiritually rather than make progress spiritually?
Leonard Ravenhill
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“The church has many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few pray-ers.”
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“One of these days some simple soul will pick up the Book of God, read it, and believe it—and the rest of us will be embarrassed.”
D.L. Moody
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“The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.”
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“We talk of heaven, but live as if no one were going there.”
Billy Graham
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“The greatest legacy one can pass on is not money or possessions, but a legacy of character and faith.”
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“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”
John Piper
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“Missions exists because worship doesn’t.”
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“You don’t have to know a lot of things for God to use you greatly, but you have to know a few things that matter tremendously.”
Chuck Smith (Sr.)
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“When God guides, God provides—but He doesn’t usually provide until you step out.”
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“The greatest enemy of spiritual life is being satisfied with a counterfeit.”
Oswald Chambers
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“The gospel is not good advice to men, but good news from God.”
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“We are not here to save souls—that is God’s work—but we are here to bear witness.”
William Booth (Founder of Salvation Army)
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“Not called, did you say? Not heard the call, I think you should say.”
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“Some people like to live within the sound of church or chapel bells; I like to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell.”
David Brainerd (Missionary to Native Americans)
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“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could gain souls to Christ.”
Amy Carmichael
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“One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving.”
Hudson Taylor
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“I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended by asking Him to do His work through me.”
II. Key Soul-Winning & Evangelistic Bible Verses
(Grouped for clarity and decent use)
Urgency & Eternity
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John 4:35
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2 Corinthians 6:2
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James 4:14
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Hebrews 9:27
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Luke 12:20
The Lost Condition of Humanity
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Romans 3:23
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Romans 6:23
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Ephesians 2:1–3
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Isaiah 53:6
The Gospel Message
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John 3:16–18
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Romans 5:8
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1 Corinthians 15:1–4
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Acts 4:12
The Great Commission & Witness
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Matthew 28:19–20
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Mark 16:15
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Acts 1:8
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Romans 10:14–17
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2 Timothy 4:2
God’s Heart for the Lost
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Ezekiel 18:23
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Ezekiel 33:11
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Luke 19:10
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2 Peter 3:9
God’s Role in Salvation
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John 6:44
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John 16:8
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1 Corinthians 3:6–7
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Ephesians 1:4–5
III. Barna & Related Research Statistics on Evangelism
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Only about 20–25% of self-identified Christians say they have shared their faith in the past year.
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Less than half of practicing Christians feel confident they can clearly explain the gospel.
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Over 60% of churchgoing Christians believe evangelism is primarily the pastor’s responsibility.
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Younger Christians (Gen Z & Millennials) often see evangelism as “potentially offensive,” even while believing the gospel is true.
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Nearly 70% of Americans say they are open to spiritual conversations—especially during times of crisis or personal hardship.
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Churches that emphasize biblical preaching and personal evangelism consistently show higher spiritual engagement and retention.
(Sources: Barna Group, Pew Research summaries, and Lifeway studies; figures rounded for teaching clarity.)
IV. Exhaustive List of Soul-Winners in the Bible
(Men and women marked by urgency and obedience)
Old Testament
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Noah – Preacher of righteousness (Genesis 6–9; 2 Peter 2:5)
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Abraham – Interceded for the lost (Genesis 18)
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Moses – Pleaded for Israel’s salvation (Exodus 32; Romans 9:3 echo)
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David – Evangelistic psalms (Psalm 96; 51)
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Isaiah – “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6)
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Jonah – Reluctant, yet urgent messenger (Jonah 3)
New Testament
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Jesus Christ – The model soul-winner (Luke 19:10)
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John the Baptist – Urgent call to repentance (Matthew 3)
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Peter – Pentecost preacher (Acts 2)
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Stephen – First martyr-witness (Acts 7)
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Philip the Evangelist – Samaritan revival & Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8)
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Paul the Apostle – Consumed with gospel urgency (Acts–Epistles)
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Barnabas – Encourager and missionary (Acts 11–15)
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Silas & Timothy – Faithful co-laborers
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Priscilla & Aquila – Discipled Apollos (Acts 18)
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The Samaritan Woman – Immediate personal evangelism (John 4)
V. Who Were Some Soul-Winners from History Who Communicated with Passion and a Sense of Urgency?
Early Church
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Polycarp
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Ignatius of Antioch
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Justin Martyr
Reformation & Post-Reformation
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Martin Luther
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John Calvin
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John Knox
Evangelical Awakenings
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George Whitefield
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John Wesley
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Jonathan Edwards
Modern Missions & Evangelism with Passion
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William Carey – “Father of Modern Missions”
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Adoniram Judson
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David Livingstone
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Hudson Taylor
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Amy Carmichael
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Jim Elliot
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Elisabeth Elliot
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Billy Graham
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Luis Palau
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Chuck Smith
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Greg Laurie
Me thinks that people need to hear about and know the bad news first (there is a real place called hell, all humans have sinnned [broken God's Top Ten List, the 10 Commandments] except for Jesus Christ and the wages of sin is judgment in this placed named the lake of fire) cuz the bad news helps us appriciate the good news of saving grace in Jesus.
They should have never taken the Ten Commandments out of schools, because all children from a yojng age need to know them. Duh, now we have a plethora of serious crimes happening in our schools.
Q; Why the urgency with the most important message that's ever been passed along here on earth?
“The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”
— Carl F.H. Henry
