Several weeks ago, I began writing about our spiritual seasons. I really had no idea where God was going to lead us, but the Great Farmer of our lives always has more lessons for us to learn. Now, I realize the growing and pruning seasons are necessary if we are going to reach the Harvest Season.
Last week, we learned God prunes the good stuff in order to make it better. And, the growing season is necessary but painful. These two seasons, together, lead us to the Harvest Season. However, what is the point of The Harvest Season?
When I think about harvest, I think about abundance. Last week, we read John 15:5, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant.”
Jesus is our True Vine and God is the Farmer. Staying connected to Jesus helps us grow and become fruitful. God, then, prunes that fruitfulness making us even more fruitful, leading us to an abundant harvest. But why?
Proverbs 3:9-10 tells us what we are to do with what God has given us. It reads, “Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 talks about this as well.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
We see a two-fold purpose in these verses. God provides for us so that we can share with others. In this, God is glorified.
Even way back in the Old Testament, in Leviticus 23, “The Lord said to Moses, 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest.”
James 1:17-18 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
God is the giver of every good gift, including the gift of our life. This is our Harvest Season.
Interestingly enough, the definition of harvest is a process of gathering. Today, let’s reflect on this Harvest Season, as a gathering. What have you gathered in your life? What is yours and what is God’s? And, what can you give back? This is the purpose of the Harvest Season, a time of gathering what God has given to us and a time of sharing it with others. This is the kingdom of God!
Let us pray;
Oh Great Giver of all good things, create in us a generous heart and a giving spirit. Teach us how to share what You have blessed us with so that others might be blessed as well. And may You be glorified in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
P.S. Leave me a comment below and tell me how you intend to share what God has given you. Forward this message to a friend and ask them to subscribe to my website. Post on Facebook and tag me in it. Until next time, may your gathering be abundant and your giving even more. -M
