Ministry Is...[3]

...A well-planned endeavor.

In Luke Chapter 8 Jesus tells a parable of a sower.  He says "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."  (verses 5-8).  Later in the chapter He actually gives the meaning to this parable:  This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."  (verses 11-15).  We know from other verses that if we are to be ministers of God, we are to be harvesters, toiling in the fields of potential believers to bring in the harvest for God.  

If you know anything about farming, you know that it's a lifestyle.  Now, I know very little about farming, but I know that much.  I live in rural Southeast Missouri where farmers can be seen on the road or in their fields in giant farm equipment at all ours of day or night.  The fact is that the harvest is only part of that lifestyle.  What a lot of people don't know is that it takes time to get the soil ready for planting, never mind harvesting.  Certain crops grow best in certain chemical/acid conditions in the soil.  Some crops grow best in lower basins where moisture collects.  Other crops thrive with direct sunlight and daily precipitation.  Obviously there are certain parts of the country--or the world--where certain crops grow best. 


You've heard the saying "No Farmers, No Food" or seen a bumper sticker that reads something like it, I'm sure.  Well, it is true of course.  If you knew how many household products aside from food contain corn you'd be surprised.  The fact is that we need those farmers for our survival.  So, it's fitting that Jesus used such an analogy for his parable.  We need to be soul-seeking field workers, just as a farmer needs to produce crops (for their livelihood and survival).  They need to have a successful harvest...or else.  They could lose their home, their farm, their future crop, their future meals.  So they put their blood, sweat, and tears into their work.  The plan for the crop of this year may have been in the works 5 years ago.  They plan when and where to plant which seed.  They plan how much and how often they will fertilize, which fertilizer to use, which irrigation system is best, how often to irrigate.  Even a decision like leaving a tree to grow in the middle of their field could affect their crop in 10 years. 


I think we can agree that farmers do a lot of work for their harvest.  They don't start with the harvest or the plant; they start with the soil.  And they work with it until it is right, and then they take care of seeds until they are plants, and then they harvest the final product and send it on its way.  The farmer does that.  But I think we can also agree that the farmer has to depend on nature to do it's part as well.  I say nature but more specifically I mean God.  Farmers do all they can to bring in a good harvest, but they have to depend on God to protect their work, to feed their plants, and protect their crops from natural disasters that may destroy the whole field.  


This is another way in which Jesus chose this parable perfectly!  As ministers we must work, and I mean work hard for our harvest.  It doesn't start with stumbling onto a field of perfectly ripe fruits and veggies.  It starts with the soil, our environment.  If my church isn't healthy enough to grow believers for God, then it needs some more work.  If my home isn't inviting to my neighbors, then it needs more work.  If my heart isn't open to sharing with others, then it needs more work.  This parable that Jesus is sharing speaks through generations.  He knew that even today, 2000 years across time, farmers would exist--I mean, of course they would.  A man's gotta eat, right?