Sowing and Reaping

There is a bittersweet feeling at this point of the year when wheat harvest reaches its end. Over the years, I have gained memories, lessons learned and an appreciation for the American farmer. When I was a kid, wheat harvest meant staying up late to make dinner for the guys at Grandma Pauline’s. It meant that we could go ride on the combine with dad and be mesmerized as we watched the grain fill up through the back window. It meant taking lunch out to the field in Grandma’s station wagon, celebrating Kaytlyn’s birthday in those yellow lawn chairs, and eating ice cream with dessert for every meal. The weeks of harvest were some of the highlights of the summer right up there next to fair, swimming in the water tank, and the 4th of July.

Even though the 2-3 weeks of wheat harvest are some of the longest days all year for farmers which correlate with lack of sleep, no days off and lots of dedication, the promise of collecting the grain for the year is rewarding.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

Many months before harvest occurs, the ground is worked, the wheat is planted, the seeds are watered and the plants grow. Maintenance must happen on the combines, tractors and sprinklers. It takes lots of planning for wheat harvest to commence. What would it be like if we didn’t take the time beforehand to do the work? I am fairly certain that if we didn’t sow generously, we wouldn’t reap generously meaning that harvest wouldn’t be successful if we didn’t put the effort into the preparation.

“If you are too lazy to plow, don’t expect a harvest.” Proverbs 20:4

In the Bible, the words of sowing and reaping are presented to us in the context of farming. They most certainly apply to agricultural ways, but this lesson, along with many others in His word are meant for everyone.

When we work diligently at our relationship with Christ, we get everything out of it that we put into it. The more time we spend with Him, the closer we will feel and that relationship will sprout. That is worth even more than a plentiful harvest, and it doesn’t stop there. As we grow in God, our minds become focused on the things above and we prepare for those endless golden fields and the ultimate bountiful harvest in our eternal home. How can we expect to live in this promised Kingdom that has hills of grain and perfect land if we haven’t put in the effort or time of preparation?

This week, let’s focus on the sowing, tilling and plowing of our relationship with Christ. By serving Him, we are leading others home. Let’s think about that satisfying feeling at the end of harvest, seeing the high yields and the grain bins piling over and compare it to rewarding feeling that we will have when we get to Heaven and see the people that we helped get there. If we sow, we will reap and I have no doubt in my mind that the reaping we will have that day our Kingdom comes will be better than anything we can possibly imagine.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” Ecclesiastes 7:2