Spring is a beautiful time of the year. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, grass is growing and trees are budding. It’s also planting time for farmers. I’d like to take a moment to recognize farmers everywhere and give them the respect they deserve. Every source of food we consume comes from a farmer’s sweat, toil and hard work. Whether its potatoes, corn, wheat, peanuts, fruits, etc.… or any type of animal, it all starts with a farmer.
In the late 1800’s, nearly 70-80% of all Americans were employed in agriculture. Today, there is less than 2% of the population producing not only for the United States, but for the world. The mechanization and technological innovations have allowed fewer farmers to produce more and more. Successful farmers have it down to a science. They add just the right amount of water, nutrients and fertilizers to get the most out of every acre. It’s absolutely incredible.
Our lives and how we live can be compared to a farmer and the old saying, ‘we reap what we sow’. If we invest our time, talents and treasures into the lives of our family, friends, and co-workers, we are bound to reap the rewards later in life – in harvest time. But it isn’t always easy. Problems, challenges and trials (weeds) seem to appear out of nowhere and knock us off track. This is why we need Jesus – the ultimate farmer. We need to be sowing time with God – in reading the bible and in prayer.
Are you giving time to others? Are you giving time to God? What are you going to reap when it’s all said and done? I’ll end with this quote by Winston Churchill – “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Matthew 13:3-9 – “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
Matthew 3:18-23 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
“Dear Lord, thank you for the truth of your word. Thank you for farmers everywhere and the example they are for us to follow – that we will reap what we sow. Thank you for being the ultimate farmer. It’s in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”