I started cultivating when I was in the 10th grade. By then I had been driving a tractor for a couple of years. It was exciting. But as I got older and started staying out all night… well the fun wore off. There were lessons in this hot, boring job but I was young, and I had my eyes on other things.

A few weeks after the soybeans burst through the soil, we mounted the cultivators to the tractors to plow up the early grass & weeds. If left alone, grass & weeds would choke out or overrun the crop. Also, cultivating stimulated the young soybean plants with additional oxygen….much like stirring the water for fish.

The most difficult part of cultivating was the sheer boredom. By mid-afternoon, my lack of sleep, the long rows, the hot sun of summer, and the humming of the tractor motor lulled me to sleep. Singing, pouring cold water over my head, nothing seemed to work. I would doze off, the tractor would drift and I would be plowing up soybean plants. When this happened, I was plowing up 4+ rows of soybeans. I desperately tried standing them up, pouring water on them, but they were dead.

I now recognize Lessons From the Farm. First the plowed-up beans might not be noticeable from the road but at harvest dad could see where I went to sleep. It’s like sin, we can try to cover it up, but our Father knows we have sinned. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

Second, my dad provided the equipment, with precise settings, and training & instructions for my job on his farm. Our Heavenly Father has given us the Holy Spirit, His Holy Word, to guide our life. “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.” 2 Corinthians 9:8. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

I knew I had a responsibility to be ready for the work both physically & mentally. I watched my dad do his job without complaining or whining. He missed a lot of my activities when I was growing up because of his responsibilities. And yes, being a farm-boy meant missing some of the fun stuff in the summer. I now understand the lesson God taught me one Saturday morning cultivating a field close to the highway. As my friends drove by on the way to the lake they honked & waved. Being a follower of Christ means His work comes first. It begins with deciding what is the most important. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5 when He answered the Jewish leader about what was important in Matthew 22:37-40, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

If you are a Believer, a Born-Again Follower of Christ, how’s your cultivating gong? Are you finding yourself falling asleep, drifting…plowing up precious things and time in your life? Are you plowing along and seeing the fun things go by? Do you look at your crop (your life) and not recognize the harvest value?

Maybe it’s time to adjust your settings.

Question: Do you start your day with Him? Do you allow Him to adjust your settings of life with His Word? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to guide your steps?

Question: Are you allowing the hot, boring task of everyday life to distract you from the harvest? Jesus has a way. “The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.” Psalm 85:12

Jesus gave us a glimpse of a good harvest in Matthew 25:21, “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’”

In Matthew 9:37 Jesus challenged us… called us to the field. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few.”

Are you ready for work?