Crops to Grow People to Feed.... Farmers Love Growth!
Light For Life July 2005
God is into growth have you noticed that? Growth is something that He does best and He loves seeing it and the fruit that it brings. On this earth God has made us to be the farmers on His land. We plant, nurture, feed, and then harvest the produce of these crops which bring eternal returns. Each of us has a favourite crop that we want to grow – it’s just to our liking and we know more about that particular species than any other. We love the colour, texture and taste of this crop and we put our all energy into it.
I had a crop I was nurturing and that was because God had given me the seeds to plant, it was just the crop I would be good at and I had faithfully watched over it watering it, tilling the soil, fertilizing and eradicating pests. I was a good farmer, just like my Father and the crop grew and grew, it developed beautiful, ripe, plump juicy fruit and I was so pleased. I wanted everyone to see this beautiful crop. I couldn't wait to take my produce to market and see it nourish people and give them all that natural goodness which would in turn help them to grow and be healthy.
For years I grew this crop – year after year; and each year I learned something more and found new ways to improve the soil, get bigger fruit and better methods for harvesting. One year I had prepared the soil, planted my seeds, watered them in, and watched the fruit grow and grow. They were ripening now and just about ready for the harvest, almost ready to be taken to market to be sold, to nourish and strengthen others. Then one day the Land Owner came along to call on me to see how I was going, He looked over my crop and congratulated me, He commented that this was the best crop ever, and He was indeed pleased as He loved growth and knowing the fruit would go to feed so many.
Then something unexpected happened, He informed me that He needed me somewhere else, somewhere far away, there was a new farm with another field and I was just the right one for this new crop – one I thought I knew little about. I felt deflated because I got confused thinking that I had been doing a good job, perhaps he wasn't happy with me after all? I could not believe the timing of this new venture into the unknown, besides I wanted this crop, I cared for it, and wouldn't I even be able to stay to see the faces of the people at the market who would come to buy this fine fare!
So He told me to pretty much get ready to go straight away; and even though He was the boss, I am ashamed to say I protested the decision, and then went off feeling disappointed and like I definitely don't want to be a farmer anymore! But, what could I do this was my life my calling? Even though I was upset I started to get going, then I began to pull myself together and then to make progress and I moved to the new field.
My new field didn't look half as interesting; that is until I began to look at my plot and see that there was some really good soil here, this crop would also nourish the people, and then I began to really love the location, it was situated very nicely. When He told me what to plant and I envisaged the crop I was dumbfounded – this was better than I ever expected! Next thing I know I was getting up early to go to work, there was purpose and fulfilment. I started to see that the Land Owner indeed had more experience than I. I called Him up and thanked Him for doing me this service and then I proceeded to plant the seeds. It wasn't long before up popped the little heads of my new crop, they looked fine and appeared strong – it was exciting when I realized that the yield on this crop was even better, it was far more nourishing, it was quick to grow and even self seeded which in turn would produce more fruit.
It was at the end of a long but rewarding days’ work that I sat on the verandah of my house with a cup of tea; I looked out and saw a fine sight. It was then that the Land Owner came along, I invited him to have a drink with me and we talked. He told me that He knew that I loved that old field and the crop that was growing there, He was sorry but it was more vital to move me on at that time He had others that could more than ably manage that crop, who would harvest it and were just right for this field. He reminded me He was the Land Owner and that I worked for him and he could choose to move His farmers to whatever crop He liked. He didn't do this to upset them, in fact it was an honour He told me, He chose me because I was just the right one for this crop and He knew he could trust me with it, yes it would start off small but He had big plans for this crop.
You see, He said ‘I give you the seeds to plant, for a crop to grow, crops that will net huge yields, yes you did a lot of work on it but the most important thing is the fruit, fruit to feed so many people. He had so many farmers and they were all good, the most important thing was that the fruit was prime not who grew them’. He said ‘You must remember that I gave you the seeds and I taught you all you know about farming and you just followed My instruction’. He reminded me that I was not removed from the field because I had failed, or because He wanted to upset me. He told me it was that He saw potential in me, that as I was a good farmer that I cared about His crops and that I would adjust to my new assignment. You see He knew I was a good farmer because I loved seeing growth.
Farmers love growth…. it doesn't matter which crop they grow.
Now the point to all this – wherever you are assigned, whichever crop is yours to grow right now, it is important to God. It is His crop, His fruit. When we move on we may loathe the shift but only until we see His divine purpose in it. Love your crop; trust His plan and you will see how effective you can be!
Thanks to my husband who gave me the concept and inspiration for this piece.
Love
Cam
Word For Life
Interesting Info on this scripture: Barnes Commentary
God gave the increase - God caused the seed sown to take root and spring up; and God blessed the irrigation of the tender plants as they sprung up, and caused them to grow. This idea is still taken from the farmer. It would be vain for the farmer to sow his seed unless God would give it life. There is no life in the seed, nor is there any inherent power in the earth to make it grow. Only God, the Giver of all life, can quicken the germ in the seed, and make it live. So it would be in vain for the farmer to water his plant unless God would bless it. There is no living principle in the water; no inherent power in the rains of heaven to make the plant grow. It is adapted, indeed, to this, and the seed would not germinate if it was not planted, nor grow if it was not watered; but the life is still from God. He arranged these means, and he gives life to the tender blade, and sustains it. And so it is with the word of life. It has no inherent power to produce effect by itself. The power is not in the naked word, nor in him that plants, nor in him that waters, nor in the heart where it is sown, but in God. But there is a Fitness of the means to the end. The word is adapted to save the soul. The seed must be sown or it will not germinate. Truth must be sown in the heart, and the heart must be prepared for it - as the earth must be plowed and made mellow, or it will not spring up. It must be cultivated with assiduous care, or it will produce nothing. But still it is all of God - as much so as the yellow harvest of the field, after all the toils of the farmer is of God. And as the farmer who has just views, will take no praise to himself because his grain and his vine start up and grow after all his care, but will ascribe all to God’s unceasing, beneficent agency; so will the minister of religion, and so will every Christian, after all their care, ascribe all to God.
The Word
1 Cor 3:6-9 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase. So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater. He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labour. For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, labourers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building. [Isa. 61:3.] According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done. If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward. But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire. [Job 23:10.] Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]? If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are. Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise. [Isa. 5:21.] For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.] And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are. [Ps. 94:11.] So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours, Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours, And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
