All through Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa we would see cornfield after cornfield as we drove to see him. They were beautiful. Every now and then a house would appear with a nearby barn. I would always marvel at the modesty of the house - pristine, but plain. The farmer's glory was in his crops which indicated how successful he was in maintaining their growth until it was time to reap. Nature plays such a huge part in bringing all to fruition, but the farmer must do his part first by starting with the right soil. He carefully plans, hoping for abundance. Every step he takes matters for the ultimate result.
Utah is mountainous and beautiful, but even in the valley the ground is hard and dry. The trees and brush that grow naturally among the rocky terrain are lovely, but drought resistant because humidity is so low. Soil enriched flower gardens and domestic potted plants must be watered daily in order to survive.
Many of the homes in town had an area of their yards sectioned off for vegetable gardening. It was a major investment to fill the bed with right kind of dirt, plant the seeds, and then care enough to oversee its progress for weeks to come. The life of a farmer - urban or rural - is hard, but rewarding in the end.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.
Paul is speaking here about the spreading of the gospel with the harvest being the souls of men. Breaking ground with people takes determination as well. It is not always easy when dealing with flesh and bone. (For some of us, it is never easy.) Still, the seeds need planting. Sometimes 'people' ground is harder and more resistant to any kind of care that might be offered. We must not only reach out, but reach in. It might be easier to just throw some seeds at that rocky surface without any prep work at all, but no one gains anything by using this method.
The world is a dry and thirsty place. Cultivation is lacking all around us. Few are selfless enough to invest in others.
Matthew 13:23 "As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
Our speech need not be perfect, but our love for Christ must be genuine and obvious. The seed itself is the precious message of hope to a lost and dying world. It must be fed, watered, and nurtured with truth and steadfastness. We must remember that only God brings forth life and growth.
1. plant - place a seed, bulb, or plant in the ground so that it can grow. Plant some seeds purposefully and not scattered to the wind. God will do the prep work in the hearts. You just be the sower.
2. nurture - care for and encourage the growth or development of. After planting the seeds, make yourself available for conversation, kindness, and minister as needed. Invest.
3. harvest - the process or period of gathering in a crop. Only God can do the harvesting. After that, growth occurs, for it is only in dying that we live.
John 12:24-25 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
I do believe God is calling us to farm. His crops never fail. Take time to do a little sowing and then purpose to nurture and cultivate. God will do the harvesting. You just watch and wait for that to happen.
If He calls us to farm, He will have a harvest.
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
Sow some righteousness for yourself. Reap some love as you dig deep into the word of God. It is time to seek Him and farm.
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