Our school has a great agriculture program. At some point in time, all the students work in the ag department. Last school year, our students sowed seeds into their own garden plots. They tended to the seeds. They watered the seeds. They pulled up the weeds to ensure the weeds didn’t take up the nutrients and moisture from the soil. They applied fertilizer as necessary. But then our students were sent home and the school was closed due to the pandemic. The students no longer were able to tend to their gardens nor reap the harvest. As the new school year began, some of the harvests still needed to be reaped, but it was not done by the original sowers. Other people had to reap the harvest. The original sowers did not reap the benefits of their harvest. They did not see the fruits of their labor.
We, too, are farmers. We may not plant a garden, sow seeds, or even harvest the plants. But we sow gospel seeds. We tell others about the love of Jesus. We tell others about His forgiving power. Even Little Bit loves to tell others that Jesus died for them. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go he therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” We are all called to plant seeds.
But the job doesn’t stop there. Those seeds need to be tended to. The seeds that have been planted need to be watered. Bible studies need to be continued. But also, showing them you care is just as important. Building that relationship. New converts that come into the church and build friendships are more likely to stay in the church while those who do not have friendships within the church will leave within the first year, statistically speaking. The "seeds" need to be watered. Proverbs 11:25 says, "and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." We as farmers will get the water we need when we provide the water the seeds need. How amazing is that? The tending process doesn't stop. It continues throughout the whole growing season.
As plants are being tended to, they also need to be fertilized. The seeds need to receive nutrients and food essential to growing. Bible truth is essential. We must remember what Peter says in 2 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. There is proper food for growing seeds. Yes, the seeds need Bible truth, but it needs to be broken down. When we feed a baby, we break down the food. We don't feed a baby a sirloin steak, but instead mashed potatoes. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are able." We must feed the seeds properly so they receive the nutrients necessary to grow and prosper. Many times we try to feed the seeds with meat that cannot be digested yet. They are not ready for that type of food. They get discouraged and soon give up because it seems impossible.
As the tending to the seeds and the fertilization process takes place, pest control and weeding must also occur. Now this must be a very gentle process. You don't want to uproot the plant while ridding it of the weeds and bugs. But if we don't remove the weeds, they will rob the plant of nutrients and water necessary for growth. If we don't eliminate the pests, they will eat away at the plant. In Galatians 6:1, it says, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." Restore him a spirit of gentleness. That is the key part. Also, James 5:19-20 says, "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." It is very important that this process be done gently, slowly. We need to point the seeds to Jesus. Many times, the sins will be shone on their own. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we want to give up the things that are keeping us from Him.
The last step is the harvest. The baptism. The turning over one's life and growing into a mature Christian. Many times this is the most rewarding part of the process because the fruits of the labor are most visible. 1 Peter 3:21 says, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doeth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh," by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
But once the harvest is complete, the journey isn't over. The process still continues.
Something to remember, though we are all farmers, we do not do the whole farmer process with one person, one seed. We are farmers that work together and take on different jobs throughout the process. Some are called to be the sower while others are the tender. Some may be the weeder while someone else is the fertilizer. That is why it is important to remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ." You may be a sower of a seed but not see the fruit of the harvest until you enter the Kingdom of God. When we get to Heaven, we may then and only then see the fruits of our labors. We may have stars in our crowns because of seeds we planted, but did not harvest. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
We each are farmers. There will be a harvest. And we all have a part to play, but only By God's Amazing Grace.
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