“A hard-working farmer should have the first share of the crops” (2 Timothy 2:6 GW).
This agricultural illustration brings one of Jesus’ parables to mind…
“And He said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come'” (Mark 4:26-29).
This parable is unique to Mark’s Gospel and features several elements that should be easily recognizable to anyone who has ever attempted to grow a plant from a seedling.
For example, there is a period of time when nothing seems to happen after a seed has been planted. But despite the effort it takes to plant a seed with no immediate return during this initial period, there is no cause for discouragement. That’s because the germination process takes place below the surface and out of sight. Once that hidden process is complete, we can then see the positive result of our efforts.
In a similar way, it is possible to become discouraged in those intervals when nothing seems to be happening in our relationship with God. Or perhaps there is no discernible movement in the spiritual lives of those we are praying for. When these things occur, it may be helpful to bring this parable to mind. Just as a farmer cannot see the growth and activity that takes place below the soil’s surface, so it may be with God’s work in our lives and the lives of others.
The reality is that we don’t always know what God is doing behind the scenes on our behalf. Just because we can’t see God at work doesn’t necessarily mean that He isn’t working to make good things happen without our knowledge. Remember that a farmer doesn’t plant a crop and return to harvest it the following day; it takes time for that harvest to develop.
While it may seem as if we are not having any impact for Christ in our homes, jobs, schools, or neighborhoods, looks can be deceiving. Therefore, we should consider the possibility that God is working on our behalf in a manner that may not be visible or obvious- just like the seed growing unnoticed in this parable.