THE PARABLE OF THE FARMER

Is the seed yet in the barn? —Haggai 2:9

There was a farmer who was plowing his fields. Breaking up the fallow ground was hard work and he thought to himself, “I hate plowing and tilling the ground! I get blisters on my hands holding this plow.”

After the plowing was done he went out to sow. He planted the seeds and said to himself, “How I hate sowing. I’ll have to wait for weeks to even see the seedlings come forth.”

During the summer months the farmer tended his fields, cultivating, hoeing, pruning and watering the young plants. “This work is so tedious and wearisome. And my back aches from bending over these plants. I hate tending the fields.”

Finally came the harvest season. He waded out amongst the crops full of ripe fruits and vegetables. He rejoiced and said, “How I love to harvest! I will hold a great feast for my family. We will eat, drink, and enjoy the fruit of our labor.”

After harvest was gathered and the feast was over, the farmer brooded, “Now I must go and turn under my fields and prepare the ground to sow for the next season. How I hate to sow, but how I love to harvest. I think from now on I will only harvest!” So, he rested all spring and summer. When he went out to harvest in the fall he found there was no fruit to gather.

Every Christian is a farmer that God calls into His field. Jesus said the field is the world, the seed is the Word of God, and the soil is the souls of men. The soil must be prepared, seed must be planted, and watered. This is hard work. But without it there will be no harvest. We rejoice at the harvest of seeing souls saved when God gives the increase. Yet God cannot give an increase where their has been no sowing.

Let’s work and get the seed out of the barn into the soil of men’s hearts!