If you plant strawberries, you get _________? If you plant peas, you get _________? If you plant marigolds, you get ________? In the natural, these would be "Duh" questions, right? Even though seed may be sown underground, and the roots take hold in dark places, what we plant is eventually revealed obviously to the rest of the world as the crop comes up--we reap what we sow.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked [ridiculed]. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially [but not only] to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal. 6:7-9).

Here is the same principle as it applies to giving: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not  reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever'"(II Cor. 9:6-9). Let me break here to say that this quotation sounds like it refers to Christ, but actually quotes Psalm 112 which says, "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands . . . He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor" (1, 9). This is the same man spoken of in Psalm 1:1-3: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the council of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers [there's that word again]. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." Back to II Cor. 9--"Now He who supplies seed for the sower and bread for food will increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness" (11).

In two passages we note the reference to God's timing: "For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up," and "like a tree . . . which yields its fruit in season." The seed we sow is up to us; the time of harvest is up to God, and we must not "give up" tending the field until God's time arrives. Remember that "patience" is a fruit of the  Spirit. No crop comes in the day after it is sown, except by a miracle (Yes, He does still send those!). "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains, You, too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near" (James 5:7-8).

Lord of the Harvest, I ask for good seed to be sown in the ground You appoint, and for the rain and the sun and the rich soil to nourish that seed. Help me to be faithful and not to give up in tending the seed You have assigned me until the harvest has come in. Amen