YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW 2
Luke 12: 16-21
Harvest is a natural outcome of seeding. As noted in our previous reading, and in Genesis 8:22, as long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest shall not cease. It is a perpetual law that would govern the earth as long as there is life therein. Harvest is both a verb and a noun. As a verb, it refers to what you do to gather your crops from the farm to the barn in readiness for storing, eating and selling. As a noun, it refers to the process as well as the time. When a man has put in so much in a particular venture, and the venture starts to yield, people say his “harvest” has come.
The time of harvest is the conclusion of the planting season or the growing cycle of a particular crop. In most agriculture communities, the time of harvest is usually a joyous occasion. That is why major festivals are fixed for this time. In Africa, most celebrate new yam festivals at harvest time. Other festivals are equally fixed around this time. What are we saying? Harvest time is full of joy at reaping the sweat and efforts of previous months/years. Our prayer for you today is that your harvest shall bring you joy. Harvest is fully dependent on sowing. Besides this, it has its own laws also.
Firstly, it is important that your harvest should be dedicated to and draw you towards God. The rich man in our text calculated God out of his harvest. It was all about himself. Not even a consideration for others. In the Jewish law, a portion (10%) of your harvest belongs to the Lord. And there is a portion that must be left for the needy to glean from while you are reaping your crops.
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19: 9-10.
We are not told whether, this rich man obeyed this Law or not. But his selfish attitude indicates that he might not have done this. Dearie, life is about sharing. Acknowledge the Lord with and in your harvest. Reach out to others also. The elders say, it is normal to work alone but not normal to enjoy the produce alone.
Another thing to look at in harvest is safety and security. You must pray to be alive, hale and hearty to enjoy your harvest. Why must they observe a minute’s silence in your remembrance at the wedding of your child that you labour to train? You should also pray against devourers. Remember the Midianites in Judges 6? When Israel planted, they were not troubled. But when harvest time comes, Midianites would come in large number to fight and carry away the harvest to the extent that people now hide their harvests! Secure your harvest in the place of prayers. Do other necessary things that may be required physically. Build “literary” barns.
Finally, today’s harvest is inclusive of seed for the future. Don’t eat it all. Every fruit has inside it the seed for the future as well as the food for today. Don’t just be an eater, be a sower also. God blesses the sower more than the eater. Eating ends the cycle whole sowing elongates the cycle. Don’t cut short your destiny. Don’t eat it all. Think about tomorrow.
MEDITATION: Isaiah 55: 10-11.
