The Joy of the LordSample

Sower and the Tiller by Pastor Don Kimi

Senior Pastor of New Hope New Life Church – Big Island, Hawaii

Scripture

 Psalm 126:4-6, “Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." 

Observation 

There is so much here that speaks of doing ministry.  Jesus spoke about the sower going forth as we are commissioned to do, and warns that in that journey, some fell on the wayside, some among the rocks,  some among the thorns, and others on good ground. Do you think it broke His heart that only 1 out of the 4 got to a place of growth and a productive life?  Or did He have something in mind or a test to see what the church would do with the other 3?

Note that the 3 others were not yet ready to receive the seed because of their circumstances or the condition of their soil. As our church agriculture ministry goes forth, may we remember that we are not just sowers but also tillers of the soil. Too often as the church, we focus on bringing forth that one, discipling, training up, placing and sending forward, and forget about the other 3 who just need some tilling.  We even can train ourselves to just throw more seed, but for every 1 added, there are 3 lost. We can become a church history with more drop-outs then honor roll students. 

Application 

 It will always be more muddy, more disgusting, and more trying to be in the tilling department than in the sowing department.  The labor and job description is totally different, yet if you have a sowing department, you need to have a tilling department.  I knew about Jesus at a young age but remained part of the (3) group for years and years till I was 40.  Now that I look back, I understand that the ones that tilled my soil,  mentored, encouraged me, brought correction to me, and stood aside me in all the mud and my filth were as big a part of my ministry today, then the sowers in my life…May I never forget that for every sower set out, we will need 3 tillers.  

Prayer

Lord, today we become a body that not only sows but also tills. Lord we know that it is muddy, it is storming, and the conditions look impossible. Yet, our faith in You allows us to walk on water with You, Jesus, and that all things are possible.