THE FARMER & GARDENER PRACTICE THIS BIBLE TRUTH
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." Mark 4:28
The statement shows the region of man's responsibility and impotence. In the matter of harvest man has things he can do, and those he cannot do. He can sow. He can reap. These are necessary. Apart from sowing there is no harvest. Apart from reaping the harvest is wasted. Beyond these his place is that of weakness and of waiting. His waiting is not that of restlessness. He goes quietly on with his life sleeping and rising. His confidence rests upon two things: first, his having done his appointed task- and secondly the certainty that work is being done which is outside the realm of his power, for "the earth bears fruit of herself."
The statement does not exclude God. The earth is full of His glory. All the wonderful processes of death into life which go forward without fail within the embrace of the soil are operations of the power of God. While they are active man must wait.
And Jesus said: "So is the Kingdom of God." This clearly defines the realm of our responsibility. We must sow. We must reap. There our operations cease. The mightiest work is Divine. The soil in which we sow is the realm in which God alone can work. But it is for us to know that He is working there, even through the long wintry days when the results of our toil are not yet visible. Happy indeed are we if we learn to work in our appointed places, and then to wait in the double assurance of our limitation and His power.
Mat 13:30, 39; cp. Isa 51:11; 57:1 - 2; Rev 14:14 -16
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