I’m a little sore this morning, as we’ve been putting a lot of manual work into our garden. In shoveling, digging, planting, and weeding, I’m using some muscles I’m not used to using! The question is: will it all be worth it? What if after all of this work and expense there is no fruit?
One of the reasons that Bible often uses gardening and farming pictures is because of the long term investment required for fruit. You do not often get an immediate reward for your work in your garden. You pull out a weed, and it may appear better. But the benefit in the fruit for your tomato plant will come later.
The more I work in our garden, the more I become aware of how I expect things to happen quickly. But reality and life is quite different. Take parenting. How little do we see our kids make an immediate change in behavior? More often, we see the longer term benefit in our grandkids. Or take growing in Christ. How little do we see a huge change in our spiritual behavior from reading one Bible verse in the morning? More often, we see a cumulative change from reading Bible verse after Bible verse, morning after morning. For some key points in life, God has made sure that the slow, faithful way is the best way.
As Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians, he says in chapter 6, verses 7 to 9:
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Spiritual fruit in you and others always takes time. So, be faithful. Do not grow weary. Keep doing what is right. Keep trusting in Jesus. In due time, there will be a spiritual harvest for you, and for others!