SUNDAY June 8, 2025

The Farmer

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
2 Timothy 2:6-7

Paul concluded his analogy of an athlete and went on to the next subject––the hardworking farmer. I really do not know a lot about farming, but I do know it is extremely hard work. A farmer knows the right season for planting and the condition of the soil. He knows how long it will take for seeds to grow and when it is time to harvest crops. All the necessary hard work comes first, and then the waiting before reaping the crops to be sold for profit. The farmer finally gets to enjoy the benefits from all his hard work.

Timothy was to consider Paul’s analogy and gain wisdom from it for ministry. He was also to see himself as a farmer sowing the seeds of God’s Word in the fields of the world––the hearts of men, women and children. Those seeds needed to be cared for and watered. When the time was right, a harvest of souls was to be reaped.

In John 4:35-38, Jesus used an analogy of a farmer to reach souls:

“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Jesus had sown seeds, His Word, in the heart of the Samaritan woman. After coming to know Christ, she had gone into the city to tell everyone about Him. As the people came out to see Him, there was a field of souls ready to be harvested. Look out into your own neighborhoods. Can you not see the fields of souls that need to be harvested?

I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.
~Nicolaus Zinzendorf~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!