What do you know about farming? Do you know about preparing the soil? Do you know about planting the seed? What about fertilizing? Do you know when it is time to harvest the crop? Have you seen the signs of the times?
Jesus used a farming analogy several times during his ministry to teach the people. Most of us will understand the basics of preparing the soil, planting the seeds, fertilizing, and harvesting. Why does Jesus use this analogy when speaking of people?
Because it works! Think about it. Have you ever had someone speak an idea, you initially discard it, later consider it, and then decide to follow it? Have you ever used this method to entice someone else to do something you want them to do? I have…and I bet you have, even if you have not consciously thought about it.
Seeds get planted all the time. We plant seeds with our words. We have the option of planting good seed or bad seed. Which is why our attitudes and what we fill our hearts and minds with is so important. If we are filled with God, we will plant good seed.
In today’s passage, Jesus says the fields are ripe for harvest. He is telling His disciples that someone else has planted. In their case, Jesus is pointing to the prophets. But this applies to us as well. In our case, it is all our predecessors who have taught about Jesus. There is always a crop ready to be harvested.
Jesus says we are to open our eyes. See those who are ready to accept Him for who He is. This means also opening our ears, listening to what people say. Truly listening and seeing people will help us identify the crop that is ready to be harvested. When we identify them, we gather them into the kingdom of God.
I pray we all open our eyes to see the harvest. I pray we listen intently to what people say. I pray each one of us seeks to be a helper in gathering the harvest that has been prepared for us. Be attentive to others. Listen to their words. See the ripe fields. Be a harvester. Bring people into the kingdom of God.
John 4:35 “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Marty Pressey 