I am only just beginning to grasp the biblical idea of reaping and sowing. I think that’s because my vision of God and his kingdom has been too small.
Maybe if I was a farmer or lived in an agrarian culture, I would have got this quicker. As it is, it’s taken me a while to really see what St Paul means when he says:
‘Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously’ (2 Corinthians 9:6);
or what Jesus means when he says:
‘Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measure to you’ (Luke 6:38);
or what the writer of Ecclesiastes means when he says:
‘Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days you will find a return’ (Ecclesiastes 11:1).
They all mean that the return/ the profit/ the harvest we receive is linked to what is given/ invested/ planted. Invest wisely and well, and much good will come!
Business people know this. And farmers in particular. Farmers know that if you can get good seed into good soil then multiplication normally takes place. Whilst there may be a few bad years, the multiplication in the good years is more than enough to make up any difference.
This means that I need to make sure I’m planting seeds. Seeds of love and care and wisdom into my family. Seeds of time and energy and money into my church. Seeds of kindness and practical help into my neighbours. Seeds of vision, hard work and time into my work. Seeds of adoration, confession and intercession into my prayers. And so on…
Strategic and wise investment is always worth while. There’s always a return and the return can be huge – 30, 60 or 100 times the planting. I think I’m beginning to see that much more clearly than before. Can you see it too?
Discipleship Blog 
Yes!
Plus, the harvest can continue after the sowers have died! As told in Hebrews.
Kingdom come!
A really timely word thanks!