“Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!

John 4:35-36

Our fig tree has provided an unexpected harvest this fall. As it laid dormant all spring and summer, we thought for sure we would not see a harvest until next year. We kept it watered and pruned anyway, and then a few weeks ago, it began to produce some of the sweetest, plumpest figs that we’ve had in a long time. Even though its leaves are yellowing and falling away, it continues to bear fruit.

Let’s face it. We all like to see the results of our work. Productivity and purpose drive us, but in the end, it’s the result that brings us a true feeling of accomplishment. We like to reap what we have sown, and when we don’t, we can get discouraged and often times, we give up. We move on to the next thing or find something that offers more fulfillment.

But our happiness of fulfillment doesn’t lie in our own efforts. Jesus explains to us that His nourishment, or contentment, comes from doing the will of His Father. And our contentment in what we do should come from the Father as well.

God’s harvest is all around us. It’s not at the end of a job, or the end of a project. It’s not the recognition that we get or the pride of accomplishment. God’s harvest are the people around us every single day waiting to hear the Good News about Jesus. And He wants us to share what has been sown into us to benefit those who need to hear.  

It’s the love of giving grace instead of revenge. It’s the joy of letting someone else get the credit. It’s the peace of not responding with what you really want to say. It’s the patience of listening to the angry customer. It’s the kindness of letting that person go in front of you. It’s the goodness of a smile even when you are having a bad day. It’s the faithfulness of obedience regardless of the results. It’s the gentleness of compassion for a lonely soul. It’s the self-control of not letting our egotistical goals get in the way of God’s eternal goals.

It’s a harvest that we may never see ourselves, but it’s a harvest that will continue to grow. And just like our fig tree, we couldn’t see the effects of the work we put into it, but God knew when the timing was right for it to bear fruit.

It is hard to be patient and persistent in our work for the Lord. And it’s hard to be content sowing even when we never see the results. But whether you are in a ministry job or a secular job, God has a plan for His work to be accomplished through you. We can sit around and wait for that big moment to arrive! Or we can take advantage of this moment in time to wake up and look around. The harvest is ripe! It’s just waiting to be worked. And only eternity will measure the fruit God will bring.

#SaturdaySoulSearch