Sowing and Reaping

Brenda and I have been gardening a bit since our return from Sweden.

Farmer and gardeners get a very good perspective on life.

• They work on faith alone.
• They must plan on delayed gratification.
• They are dependent on weather, cooperative insects, and biology.  They can't be "independent".
• The potential reward can be substantial.

Some people believe that the Bible is full of farming illustrations because the people of that day could relate to those.  I think the farming illustrations were used, because they represent the BEST POSSIBLE illustrations for the reasons listed above.

• The parable of the sower has great depth (no pun intended).
• The parable of the rented-out vineyard and the cruel renters is convicting.
• The parable of the tares and wheat is captivating.

All of these and more Biblical illustrations tell us that we must work now on faith for the future.  They tell us that the potential reward is great.  They tell us that we are dependent.

So each spring we sow with expectation, and therein we learn a lesson.

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”   Luke 18:6-8 (NIV)