From Planting to Harvest: Biblical Teachings on Patience and Reward

Throughout Scripture, biblical teachings inspire us with images such as corn, wheat, and barley. God’s people were agriculturalists; therefore, the mages of planting and harvesting are predominant. Joseph dreamed about sheaves of corn and later stored grain in Egypt. Later, Jesus taught metaphorically in His parables about planting seeds.

God instituted the law of seedtime and harvest in Genesis, establishing this principle in the earth, which dictates our lives and determines our future. 

Sowing and Reaping

The law of sowing and reaping is actually quite simple. Whatever type of seed you sow, you will reap a harvest from that seed. For example, if you plant apple seeds, you will reap apple trees. It’s true in nature and also spiritually. Biblical teachings reveal this fundamental truth to teach us about patience and the reward that comes with it.

In Galatians 6:7, Paul says that whatever a man sows, he will reap. Spiritually, when we sow negativity, we reap negative results. And when we sow acts of goodness, kindness, and love, we reap good things in return. No one wants to reap a bad harvest, so sowing wisely, led by biblical teachings, is important.

Patience in Reaping

Harvesting doesn’t come instantaneously. It takes time to produce a crop. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, To everything there is a season.” What we sow today will be seen at a later time. In Galatians 6:9, Paul encourages us to have patience in “well-doing.” We’ll reap if we don’t give up. As believers, we must trust that our harvest is on the way.

It’s not selfish to want a harvest. God’s law dictates it. He didn’t establish sowing only. He established sowing and reaping. They work together. One doesn’t exist without the other. God is faithful. So, don’t pray, cry, or beg for the harvest. Expect the harvest. Have faith in God that your harvest will arrive.

Good Soil

To produce a good harvest, farmers must sow in fertile soil. They prepare the soil before planting to ensure it’s rich in nutrients and irrigated to produce a good crop. In Jesus’s Parable of the Sower, He tells of a farmer who sowed some seeds on bad ground. His crop was devoured by birds, scorched by the sun, and choked by thorns.

But his seed sown on good ground produced an abundance. It matters that you sow your resources, energy, and time into places that contribute to your spiritual growth and maturity. Don’t waste resources on deceptive, spiritually draining things that only tear you down, and not build you up. Hold on to biblical teachings, so you’re not led astray. 

Spirit vs. Flesh

Paul teaches in Galatians 6:8 that if you sow to the flesh, you reap corruption, but if you sow to the Spirit, you reap eternal life. You sow to the flesh by giving in to evil desires. Paul lists works of the flesh in Galatians 5 that include adultery, fornication, hatred, wrath, and envy. Participating in these acts will bring a harvest of destructive consequences.

On the other hand, if you sow to the Spirit by exercising love, joy, peace, gentleness, temperance, and the other fruit of the Spirit, you gain eternal blessings. Sowing to the Spirit involves disciplining your flesh and practicing biblical teachings. You’ll grow strong spiritually, having an overflow to share with others.

Reaping in Abundance

When a farmer plants a seed, he doesn’t reap one fruit or one grain for each seed sown. One seed can yield hundreds of grains or fruit. Likewise, you’ll always reap more than you sow. One small act of kindness can lead to a bountiful return. Always give generously, knowing that in God’s timing, you’ll receive much more.

Keep in mind, this divine law also works the other way. If you sow seeds of bitterness, jealousy, or anger, you’ll reap a terrible harvest of loss or devastation. It could be the loss of health, resources, or other torments. Keep in mind your seeds multiply, for good or bad. Decide if you want to reap a harvest from the seeds you’re sowing. When you obey biblical teachings, you’ll reap a good harvest.

Final Thoughts

God desires that we reap a harvest from our labor. He instituted the law of sowing and reaping that produces expected rewards. As always, patience is key. The adage “Good things come to those who wait” is also true in this divine law. When we sow in faith and wait on God’s timing for harvest, we’re in line with biblical teachings on patience and reward.

Therefore, sow in good soil, sow to the spirit, and you will reap an abounding harvest. As Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” Your harvest is only a matter of time. Be patient; it awaits you.