In the last 100 years, the world has seen many developments in farming. Yet without the cooperation of sun and rain, scientific improvements are no help. Farmers can work from dawn to dusk, but drought or flood can erase all of that effort. In the same manner, the sun begins the process of photosynthesis to feed the plant, yet at the same time, too much sun can burn up the plant. Though man’s hard work and knowledge certainly increase the opportunities for a bountiful harvest, without the extraneous hand of God supplying optimal conditions, it is all for nothing.
In 2007, one-third of all of the workers in the world were involved in the field of agriculture. As Christians, 100% of us should be involved in God’s harvest. We can see in the first chapter of the Bible that God designed seed to yield food for us, in a physical sense:
29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Genesis 1:29-31
Yet at the same time, God designed seed to feed us in a spiritual sense. According to Luke 6:11, the seed is the Word of God. In Matthew 13:3-9, Jesus teaches us about the sower and the four, different soils. Some seed fell by the wayside, some in stony places, some among thorns and some in good earth. Additionally, Jesus explained this parable, telling His disciples that the seed sown by the wayside exemplified those who do not understand God’s Word, as Satan snatches away what was sown in that person’s heart. At the same time, seed sown in stony places had no roots. Though it grew fast, when difficulties arose, the plant died. This soil was emblematic of the people who do not deeply believe in God or His Laws. When troubles arise, and the fight-or-flight instinct takes over, they flee. Thirdly, Jesus described seed sown among thorns. According to our Lord, that points to people who allow the cares of the world to get in the way, choking out any growth. That soil, or type of person, becomes unfruitful. Lastly, there was seed sown on rich soil. That believer is the one who hears and understands the Word, thanks to the Holy Spirit, who sows the seed.
Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, believers get to be a part of that soul-farming process! God uses us, but that does not mean that God needs us. Any part of the process is a blessing, and is all about God, not about us, so make sure that pride does not enter the picture:
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1 Corinthians 3:5-8
Each of us as believers should be able to reflect upon our lives and see the people God used to plant the seed, to water the seed or even to harvest the seed. At the same time, God uses us in the lives of others in the same manner. There is nothing as humbling as when God allows us to see a changed or changing life in front of our eyes. If He uses us in the process, that involvement increases our faith, as we get to see His continued love affecting others in the same way that it affected and continues to affect us.
Do you want to be used by God? Remember that God uses clean vessels. That does not mean that we are no longer sinners, but if we are walking in unrepentant sin, pointing to pride, God desires for us to become clean again. Unfortunately, many Christians seem to struggle with pride by desiring large or powerful ministries. Yet the one-on-one interactions of our lives seem to make larger impacts. That interaction takes time and heart, but if you are willing, God is able! But remember, the Holy Spirit prepares the hearts of those receiving the seed. We might plant or water, but without the Son, that seed cannot grow!
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38
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