I might sit in my house on my comfy couch, gazing out my back window at the garden, and pray for God to bless my garden.
The time of planting comes … and then goes. The seed packets remain untouched … in my kitchen drawer. And I sit relaxed on my comfy couch, gazing out the window at the garden … and praying that God will bless my garden.
God has given me the land, to cultivate a garden. And yet I remain relaxed on my comfy couch inside.
God has given me seeds to plant. And yet I remain comfortably relaxed on my couch.
God has given me a tiller with which to turn up the dirt. And yet I don’t bother to go outside.
God has given me the strength to use the tiller, to turn up the dirt. But I would rather not expend any extra effort or energy if it will make me uncomfortable. I wouldn’t want to sweat.
God has given me a “window of opportunity” at planting time. But I’m not paying any attention.
I sit on my comfy couch and look out the window at the garden … and pray for God to bless my garden.
God sends the rain.
God sends sunshine.
Other people’s gardens are sprouting! All kinds of little baby plants are coming up! It’s so exciting!
I’m jealous. How come they have sprouts in their garden and I don’t have any to show off from my garden?!?
I pray that God will bless my garden. And deep down, a small root of bitterness takes hold, because my garden doesn’t look as good as their garden does.
The season advances. The gardens which have been tended and cultivated have all kinds of healthy plants which are growing beautifully, with an abundant harvest of vegetables setting on.
God, why haven’t You blessed my garden?!? How come their garden looks so much better than mine?!? I’ve been sitting here looking at the garden. And I’ve been praying for a blessing for the garden.
Everyone else has an abundant harvest. And I don’t have anything to show off!!
God has called each of us to the work of building His Kingdom.
It takes more than sitting relaxed in our “comfort zone” and simply praying.
It takes work. It takes effort. If we are going to have a harvest of righteousness, we have to get up off the comfy couch and go outside (no matter the weather!) and actually get down in the dirt.
We have to be willing to get dirty. We have to be willing to sweat. We have to pay attention to the seasons … and grab the “windows of opportunity” when God provides them.
We have to be willing to till the soil.
We have to be willing to put the seeds in the ground.
God will be faithful to bring the rain.
God will be faithful to provide sunshine.
God will be faithful to bring about a harvest.
But we must be faithful to do our part.
“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” – 2 Corinthians 9:10
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6
Luke 11:28 – “Blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
