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Several weeks ago, I was driving early in the morning to speak at a church service. I started the day before the sun came up. When we are alone, we can think about so much or so little actually. I had thoughts about harvest.
I wondered why some corn fields were growing better than others. I asked some farmers.
- Different type of corn
- Fertilizer
- Rain in one place does not necessarily mean rain in another
- Some farmers plant later (earlier) than others
- Better soil
- Patience
After being educated and I am sure there is more to this, I thought more about harvest and harvest workers.
- A good harvest is hard work. It is thought through and planned.
- A good harvest demands more hard work.
- The X factor in harvest demands patience and understanding
- When harvest comes, there is an urgency. I remember talking to grape farmers in Chile that articulated the urgency of reaping ripe harvest. Grapes must be harvested when ready, cleaned, taken to market etc.
- I am grateful for those that prepare for harvest, think harvest, plan for harvest and reap the harvest.
- Howbeit we have an X factor in our harvest terminology (the Holy Spirit), and I want to totally depend on this, I think we all need to spend more time talking strategically about harvest. We live for this.
Think about it. If you were a farmer, would you keep planting, doing the same thing every year, if there was no result. Maybe we should change how we do things.
Some thoughts . . .
When Tim and I were in “church planting boot camp” as part of a church planting “cluster plant” in Washington in the early 90’s, we were told that the results of a church plant was 80% God and 20% us. We were admonished to do our 20% well, so as not to “mess up” the 80% God was doing. We learned that a big part of our 20% was to be involved in prayer and spiritual warfare to prepare hearts and remove obstacles spiritually to allow God to do his part, and to bring favor with those who would have authority in areas we would need favor.
It was a relief to know that it wasn’t the other way around — 80% us and then God would bless. But also a challenge to know that our 20% needed to be done well and was essential to God’s ability to move and direct and provide favor where needed.