Correcting Mockers or Working the Harvest?

Daily Readings: Genesis 9, Psalm 9, Proverbs 9, Matthew 9

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom 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 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.”

Matthew 9:35-38

These two passages in today’s reading, when brought together, paint a powerful picture of how Jesus would have his followers show up in today’s broken world.

We live in a world that has never been more connected, where we are flooded with non-stop opinions from other people at a break neck pace. There are times where we can read something posted on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform, and it can feel like we are living in a fundamentally different reality than the person posting this content.

How can they possibly believe that?!

Don’t they see what is happening in the world?

How can someone be so ignorant or so naive?

In today’s world, it is extremely tempting, whether Christian or not, to jump into every fight. There can be a deep desire to prove someone else wrong.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

Our hyper-connected world stirs up constant strife, polarizes communities, and has created an environment where outrage is currency. The longer a platform can keep you glued to their site, the more money they make from advertisers, and nothing keeps attention as much as anger, outrage, and indignation.

We correct the mockers. Twitter cashes the checks.

Unfortunately, there can be a tendency for Christians in today’s world to see “correcting the mockers” as a form of ministry. We are making a difference in the world, one social media post at a time. We are bringing awareness to problems through pushing back against false narratives online. We are fighting the good fight! We are like Jesus turning over tables in the temple with our righteous rage!

I am not saying there is no place for raising awareness, highlighting problems, or using our voice.

I am writing a blog right now to post online.

However, I would encourage you to ask yourself two questions before ever posting online, commenting on someone else’s content, etc.

First, is what I am doing is aimed at correcting mockers or aimed at serving our Father’s flock? Am I jumping into this fight, because we all like to fight, and the only thing ultimately coming from this is ridicule and abuse? Or do I see a real opportunity on this platform, within this post, to help draw people closer to Jesus?

The second things we should ask is: Have I allowed online “ministry” to replace time spent in the field?

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Most life change occurs face to face. The most powerful discipleship takes place human to human.

When we allow ourselves to feel like “we are doing our part” by engaging in online fights, when we relegate our portion of the “harvest” to posting online, we rob ourselves of the amazing impact we can have when we are out there in the world.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

I cannot think of a better description of our world today.

What Jesus said over 2000 years ago couldn’t be more relevant today.

In 2026, what would it look like if the collective church spent less time correcting mockers online, only to incur abuse, and more time in the fields?

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

This is my prayer for 2026.

Lord, send out your workers!

Daily Reflection & Dialogue

If I am using my voice online, where can this be used more effectively so I am not simply engaging with mockers? Where is God calling me to get out into the field?