Harvest Time

This morning I noticed a familiar plant growing just outside our back door. I never planted it but there it grew.   As the country people call it, we were witnessing a “volunteer” plant (a vegetable plant that has not be planted intentionally).

I guessed that one of the birds dropped the seeds on top of the ground and somehow in the hard ground the seed took root and grew into a nice sunflower plant that gives us a beautiful flower now and will give us seeds for eating. As I stare at the sunflower I counted over 100 seeds on one plant. That means what we got a 1000% return for doing nothing. 

Did you ever think about the miracle God performs with every ear of corn? Springtime planting requires grains or kernels of corn to be planted into tilled ground. As one kernel grows during the summer two to four ears of corn mature on a stalk. At harvest time one ear of corn contains almost 1000 kernels of corn. That means a return of 3000% to 4000%. for one grain of corn.   The only thing the one kernel of corn did was to obey God’s principles and grow when placed in a fertile area. 

If the kernel of corn has not been planted and a protective organic chemical is not placed on the corn kernel before planting, a small bug called a weevil will bore into the center of each kernel and render the kernel useless for any purpose.  So much for not appreciating the God given gifts in our lives.

There have been many times in life that we may wonder why God does not bless us with a large return on our stuff. The answer lies in three areas. First, we do not plant or fertilize what He gives us. Second, we do not build on faith to believe that miracles still happen and thus do not believe that we can get a large harvest.  Third, we look for only giving to areas that benefit us personally.   "What's in it for me?"

Matthew 10:42 says, “Give a cool cup of water to someone who is thirsty. The smallest act of giving makes you a true apprentice of God. You won’t lose a thing.”   Why are we sometimes so insecure in trusting God to bless our lives?  Is it in just trusting God to bless our “stuff and not try to control each move?   Are we better managers than God?   We just need to involve God in ALL our decisions which should include some hourly, daily, and nightly time in talking to the Lord. 

He then opens our eyes to what is important and gives us a peace that comes from blessing others, giving our lives away, building our daily faith, and not just to think about  that phrase, “what’s in it for us”. 

All growing churches are currently involved in a financial giving program. They need a lot of kernels of corn planted into the foundations of the church’s efforts to provide an atmosphere going forward for those far from God to experience the real love of the Creator.  We should all remember that if God can give such a return on a kernel of corn or a “volunteer” sunflower seed, imagine what he can do with your gift to help reach people for the Lord. 

My Dad taught me to remember one thing, “God will never be in your debt, you can not out give the Lord. It should be our love for Him that makes us want to try”. Therefore as we continue to develop our love for the Lord, strive for building our faith, and search for ways you can give to the Lord’s work. 

Harvest time is coming.