Heard It on the Grapevine

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

– 1 Thessalonians 1:6

Recorded in an era when agriculture was the livelihood of most people, the Bible is full of references to the planting, harvesting, and storage of crops. It’s therefore no surprise that the crowds that followed Jesus from village to village were familiar with the imagery of fruitfulness in his parable called The Sower. They knew a thing or two about cultivation. And their ability to grow a thriving crop each year despite drought and pestilence could mean the difference between starvation and plenty.

A related biblical theme addresses mankind’s need for a thriving relationship with its Creator. That’s because without him, nothing — spiritual or physical — can grow to fruition.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener,” Jesus tells us through John’s gospel. “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Let’s now fast-forward to the 21st century — a dynamic era driven by technology and industry. But agriculture, from the largest factory-farm to the smallest backyard plot, is still vital. And professional and amateur farmers alike continue to seek the tools, fertilizers, and other supplies that will make their fields and gardens thrive. They know that with enough time and effort, the harvest will be both bountiful and satisfying.  

The same goes for cultivating our church into the thriving group of Believers our Creator would have us to be. That’s also a process that takes both time and effort. But unlike a vegetable garden that eventually withers and dies with the first frosts of autumn, a Spirit-filled church — despite the hardships it faces — produces good fruit marked by faith, love, and patient endurance.  

How about you? Are you cultivating a fruitful relationship with God, reading your Bible, and helping others do the same? Work awaits every Believer in the fields. So, as we gather our spiritual gardening tools for the task at hand, let’s embrace Jesus’ familiar words from Matthew’s gospel: 

“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”