Farming

Farming. Yesterday I talked about spring being sprung and the rebirth of all that has been dead all winter and how that reminds us of the resurrection of our Savior. This past week, as I’ve driven back and forth to work and especially in the area around my house, the sight of tractors on the road and in the fields have been unmistakable. They have been everywhere, and we even saw one working well after dark on Friday night. It’s that time of year to get the fields ready to be sown.

It got me thinking back a few months ago when these same farmers were out in their fields reaping what had been sown the previous spring. As they work this spring turning over the soil and getting the ground ready for it’s crop, it reminded me of the teaching of reaping and sowing in the Word of God.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” - Galatians 6:7-8. This is always the scripture that is usually used when the idea of reaping and sowing is talked about. It is usually in a negative light, which is a true teaching, but it is not the only idea spoken about in terms of reaping and sowing.

The idea of reaping and sowing is used by the Apostle Paul when he speaks about giving, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.

Paul also uses the idea of reaping and sowing in terms of winning souls to Christ. “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. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.” - 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.

Maybe you get discouraged because you don’t seem to be winning lost souls to the Lord, but maybe God has you working for Him as the planter of the seed. Or maybe God has you working as the one who waters that seed that has already been planted by offering encouragement to those seeking Christ. Or maybe you are one of the ones God is using to experience someone accepting Christ. All of those roles are important to God’s plan of saving lost souls. But in the end, it is the final work of the Holy Spirit of God that saves people, not us.

Keep sowing the seeds of Christ’s love for lost sinners. Keep watering the seeds that have already been sown. And keep alert for the opportunity to watch as God does the reaping of the work we have already put in. To God be the glory!

Have a great day and God bless.