The Sower

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“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24

I have been contemplating the story of the sower as mentioned in Matthew Chapter 13. The interesting thing is that the illustration is so simple and yet so profound. In CV’s mission objective to Touch-a-Billion, we have to recognise a number of important points. Firstly, the farmer sows with confidence; he recognises that the seed will produce and multiply. He doesn’t know how much, because that’s dependant on so many factors like, rain, frost, hail, sun, soil and general weather conditions. If he were to worry too much about these factors, he would never sow, there would never be a harvest, and ultimately he would not have any food.

Likewise, when we are sowing God’s Word in the hearts of men, we need to do so with confidence. Isaiah 55:11 says, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.” If, like a wicked servant, we just hold onto our talent, we will see no increase and no reward. When we sow, no matter how careful we are (or targeted in digital speak!), some will inevitably fall on the thorns or amongst rocks, or the birds of the air will take them away. That should not stop us sowing. Fear of failure, or fear of making mistakes, should not hold us back.

Another thing I have observed is that the farmer will sow the same field year after year. Just because you have a poor harvest one year in one particular field should not preclude you from sowing in the same place again. Each year, there is potential for a new crop and each year there is potential to touch new individuals.

The scripture says in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” This is so in the natural because it is quite possible that one servant sows and another waters or reaps but God, who is in charge of all the weather conditions, determines what the ultimate harvest will be. Therefore, let us never forget that we must work hand in hand with God.

Finally, whilst God is responsible for the growth, we the labourers are responsible to collect the harvest into the storehouse. When it’s harvest time, there is no time to rest; the farmer must drop everything and work long hours to get the harvest in, or it may spoil in the field with wind and storms. It’s a question of getting every available help you can. Matthew 9:37: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.” We need to engage all Christians in the harvest.

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