S199P16 – Through Solomon’s eyes: the diligent bear fruit

Ecc. 11:6

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

He had done an incredible amount of quality work to get where he was.  Soon, he would be graduating and walking in the footsteps of the generations before him.  While everyone else was sending out resumes by the dozen, he applied for only one position at one firm.  His family was known there, his brother had started there, and he thought that the position was as good as his.  Weeks went by, and he heard nothing from the firm.  Then, his classmates began talking about the jobs they had secured, and he started to get nervous.  When his letter finally arrived, he breathed a sigh of relief.  After opening it, panic set in.  He simply had not been competitive enough to get the job, and he had to start the search all over again.

People say that fortune favors the brave.  I think we also can say that fruit favors the diligent.  If we have a goal to reach souls and lead people to Christ, we do not share the gospel with only a single person and call it a day.  If we look at the example Jesus himself set, we will know that opposition is part of the process.  Many will hear what we have to say and turn the other way.  Some will come against us with force.  Not all soil is good for planting and long-term growth.  Not all soil has what it takes to bring the fruit to harvest.  It is our job to keep sowing and watering and following the Spirit’s lead.  Like a farmer who does not know which seed will sprout and which will fail, we must keep planting in the hearts of people. 

The sowing of seeds extends beyond directly reaching the lost.  God will have many projects for us while we live in this system of things.  Some of these projects will be difficult, or we will take a certain approach that just goes nowhere, but we must keep working to finish what God asks us to start.  We know that we will accomplish nothing if we never try.  We might accomplish what looks like very little when we do try, but we have to put in the work if we are to expect any kind of harvest.  Father, keep us diligent in completing our work for You, and encourage us to continue when we do not see the fruit we desire to harvest.