A Good Crop
“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold”
To produce a good crop of wheat or maize or soya or potatoes, has nothing to do with good luck. In fact, it has nothing whatsoever to do with chance. It is all about discipline, dedication and obedience.
You know, the definition of the word genius is one percent inspiration and 99% perspiration! To produce a good crop, timing is all important. I remember, as a young farmer in Central Africa, they told us that every week that you lose after the 25th October, planting your crop, you will lose one bag of grain per week - that is 90 kilos a week!
We have got to get our timing right, land preparation is all important - you cannot cut corners. Your land must be prepared correctly. Then there comes the fertilization, you have got to put the fertilizer in if you want to get the crop out. As soon as you start cutting back, your yield starts to dip.
The fields must be weed-free, your plant population must be spot on. You are sitting there and you are saying to me, “But Angus, what has that got to do with living a successful Christian life? Actually it has got everything to do with it - that is why Jesus used this very parable.
You and I have to get up in the morning, that is right! We have got to pray without ceasing, we have got to read our Bibles daily and we have got to attend church regularly. We have got to mix with good, wholesome Christian company. We have got to love one another and serve one another.
Remember a good farmer visits his crop every single day - aA strong believer spends time with Jesus Christ, every morning. And that is the secret of a good, healthy Christian life.
God bless you this week as you spend time looking after the garden, which God has given to you.