Planting for a bumper crop

Beauty and blessing … those two words captured my thoughts while driving past the fields where tall stalks of corn rustled in the wind, ears heavy with kernels of grain, ready for harvest. Those fields are evidence of investment and diligence. 

After last year’s harvest, the farmer prepped the field. In the spring, he planted. He put costly seed into the ground months ago, trusting that rain would come to make it grow, that no destroying wind would blow and destroy.  Only now, can he gather the grain. 

No farmer plants wheat expecting to harvest corn, does he?  Nor does he stand and look over a field wishing a harvest into existence.

Are you planting for a bumper crop?
Are you investing time and effort that will yield results you desire?

The wisdom of the farmer’s investment and diligence is obvious to us. We know that seed must go into the ground before grain can be brought into the barn. But, that same wisdom seems to elude some of us when it comes to the rest of life. We somehow think we can avoid study and still pass the test, that we can be slack about spiritual disciplines and still grow deep in the things of God, that we can be selfish and still enjoy boundless love from others.  God’s law of the harvest does not just govern wheat. Paul was inspired to teach this. "What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10, The Message)

Consider these laws of the harvest -

We gather of the seed we plant.

We gather only after we plant.

We gather more than we plant.

We gather in proportion to how much we plant.

We gather as God gives the increase.

In this season of harvest, give some thought to the seeds that you are planting. Do want to harvest that field?  The law of the harvest, as we see in those inspired words above, is always in effect.

What's in your future? You don't need a crystal ball or a prophet to know. Look at the seeds you're planting.

Sow love, harvest love.

Sow generosity, harvest generosity.

Sow kindness, harvest kindness.

Sow obedience to God, harvest a rich reward of His blessings.

Here is a word from the Word. Take the warning, believe the promise!
"Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest." (Proverbs 20:4, NLT)

"Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." (2 Corinthians 9:6, NLT)

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