What would you think of a farmer who prepares his fields but never sows seeds to nourish and harvest? Isaiah 28 speaks about this in verses 24 – 29 (please read in your Bible.) “Does he who ploughs for sowing plough continually? Does he continually keep on breaking the soil?” (V 24) But verse 26 comforts us that “The farmer knows just what to do, for GOD TEACHES HIM THE RIGHT WAY.”
There is a saying that says, “SOW TODAY WHAT YOU WANT TO REAP TOMORROW.” If you sow Christ-like love, you will reap Christ’s love. If you sow forgiveness, you will reap it too. 2 Cor. 9:6 declares, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Christ, through the presence of Holy Spirit, will help us sow and reap sensibly. Verse 10 in 2 Cor. 9 continues, “Now he who supplies seed to the Sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will ENLARGE the harvest of your righteousness.”
We need to sow the Word generously, using the Lord’s provision to plough, sow, nourish and harvest the crops. Prov. 11:24-25 says, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Reaching others with the Gospel of Christ refreshes, renews, and replenishes them while we reap the benefits too.
The saying “One sows and another reaps” originates from John 4:37, and reminds us that our actions have consequences beyond our immediate involvement. Just as a farmer sows seeds, someone else may eventually reap the harvest. All we need to do is to be faithful in our calling and sow as the Lord helps us to, not minding if someone else reaps the harvest.
Holman’s Bible says in Ecclesiastes 11:6 – “In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don’t know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or if both of them will be equally good.” This reminds us to not get tired of sowing God’s seeds to others, but to persevere.
Psalm 126:5-6 says, “”Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will. return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves.” This tells about the time the Israelites were returning from captivity in Babylon, traveling to Judea when they would have to rebuild a ruined city and start farming afresh. They were comforted with the promise, that God would bless the labours of their hands, and crown them with success.
Dear labourer in Christ’s vineyard, when you sow in tears, even during pain, or sorrow or difficulties, persecution or sickness, when you work hard and no one seems to notice what you do – the day is coming when you will reap in joy and your harvest will be rewarded.
Precious Abba Father God, please equip us to sow the seeds of your Gospel generously, with wisdom and Holy Spirit presence. Help us to never give up, to never grow tired or discouraged, with the knowledge that 1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages us – “Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” Thank You for saving us and using us for Your glory, Amen.
Myrtle Turunen