The Parable of the Harvester

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

The Parable of the Harvester
I'm sure that many people know the illustration of Jesus that He gave to His disciples, "… look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). However, if you did not grow up on a wheat farm, I doubt whether you would understand what Jesus meant. You see, there is only a brief window of opportunity for every fragile wheat harvest. A good farmer knows that you cannot cut wheat when it is too wet, or else it will ruin in the storage bin. It is useless to cut after being in the field too long. If the rain does not bleach it, it will simply fall to the ground, wasted. And if the farmer does not take advantage of the window of opportunity, his life's sustenance is lost. So, to better illustrate what I'm trying to communicate today, let me share with you The Parable of the Harvester. One year the conditions were just right to produce a bumper wheat crop. So several farmers gathered and decided upon an effective way to harvest the crop. One farmer stated, "I think we need to pool our resources and buy one of those big combine harvesters so that we can harvest our crops as quickly as possible. You recall how last year just as we entered the fields to harvest the wheat, a hail storm destroyed the grain." Everyone agreed that would be a good idea. So they contributed to buying a big combine harvester capable of harvesting several hundred hectares a day. Everyone in the community was excited about this harvester, for they knew that it would bring great prosperity to that little community. And, as the wheat continued to grow, it promised to be the biggest crop ever. When the harvester finally arrived in the community, the farmers decided upon a plan to effectively take care of it. One farmer said, "You know, we have a lot of money invested in this machine and someone is going to have to be in charge of taking care of it. It will need to be inspected, cleaned, greased and, from time to time, repaired. So if it is agreeable to the rest of you, I will attend a mechanics course at TAFE and learn how to keep it running in tip top shape." Another farmer said, "That is a good idea. While you are attending TAFE, I will head up a building project to build a barn to protect the harvester. The elements, rain, hail and fire, sure can be tough on farm equipment. The barn should have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. We will need a kitchen for the workers, and showers, too. By the way, I might as well build a gym for those who work on the harvester. They will need exercise." Excitement in the community mushroomed as other plans were shared about the harvester. One farmer agreed to be in charge of purchasing fuel, another the tyres, and another agreed to catalogue the parts that would be needed. While all these plans were being made, the wheat continued to grow even bigger heads of grain. Since they had so many people working on various aspects of maintaining the harvester, they decided to elect a couple of overseers and coordinators. They selected the two wealthiest farmers who had the most business ability. They set up a budget for each of the various categories of maintaining the harvester. They made sure that everybody was coordinated with everybody else. They wanted to make sure all the bases were covered. They even made inspection tours of wheat fields in other communities. That summer, that little farming community was a literal beehive of activity. However, the wheat rotted in the fields because everybody was too busy working on the harvester to get it to the field. Friend, this Parable of the Harvester that I have shared with you today, should remind each Christian of the words of Jesus: "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). Today, there are some tremendously ripe harvests in the world at different places just waiting to be harvested. But the window of opportunity is open only for brief periods of time. My challenge to all Christians today, is this: Be sensitive to ripening harvests. Test the grain. Get ready for the harvest. And then ask yourself this question: AM I HARVESTING THE WHEAT OR JUST MAINTAINING THE HARVESTER? I sincerely hope this is a good day for you. If you'd like to write to me I'd be pleased to hear from you. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany, W.A. 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

I'm sure that many people know the illustration of Jesus that He gave to His disciples, "… look at the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest" (John 4:35). However, if you did not grow up on a wheat farm, I doubt whether you would understand what Jesus meant. You see, there is only a brief window of opportunity for every fragile wheat harvest.

A good farmer knows that you cannot cut wheat when it is too wet, or else it will ruin in the storage bin. It is useless to cut after being in the field too long. If the rain does not bleach it, it will simply fall to the ground, wasted. And if the farmer does not take advantage of the window of opportunity, his life's sustenance is lost. So, to better illustrate what I'm trying to communicate today, let me share with you The Parable of the Harvester.

One year the conditions were just right to produce a bumper wheat crop. So several farmers gathered and decided upon an effective way to harvest the crop.

One farmer stated, "I think we need to pool our resources and buy one of those big combine harvesters so that we can harvest our crops as quickly as possible. You recall how last year just as we entered the fields to harvest the wheat, a hail storm destroyed the grain."

Everyone agreed that would be a good idea. So they contributed to buying a big combine harvester capable of harvesting several hundred hectares a day. Everyone in the community was excited about this harvester, for they knew that it would bring great prosperity to that little community. And, as the wheat continued to grow, it promised to be the biggest crop ever.

When the harvester finally arrived in the community, the farmers decided upon a plan to effectively take care of it. One farmer said, "You know, we have a lot of money invested in this machine and someone is going to have to be in charge of taking care of it. It will need to be inspected, cleaned, greased and, from time to time, repaired. So if it is agreeable to the rest of you, I will attend a mechanics course at TAFE and learn how to keep it running in tip top shape."

Another farmer said, "That is a good idea. While you are attending TAFE, I will head up a building project to build a barn to protect the harvester. The elements, rain, hail and fire, sure can be tough on farm equipment. The barn should have air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. We will need a kitchen for the workers, and showers, too. By the way, I might as well build a gym for those who work on the harvester. They will need exercise."

Excitement in the community mushroomed as other plans were shared about the harvester. One farmer agreed to be in charge of purchasing fuel, another the tyres, and another agreed to catalogue the parts that would be needed. While all these plans were being made, the wheat continued to grow even bigger heads of grain.

Since they had so many people working on various aspects of maintaining the harvester, they decided to elect a couple of overseers and coordinators. They selected the two wealthiest farmers who had the most business ability. They set up a budget for each of the various categories of maintaining the harvester. They made sure that everybody was coordinated with everybody else. They wanted to make sure all the bases were covered. They even made inspection tours of wheat fields in other communities.

That summer, that little farming community was a literal beehive of activity. However, the wheat rotted in the fields because everybody was too busy working on the harvester to get it to the field.

Friend, this Parable of the Harvester that I have shared with you today, should remind each Christian of the words of Jesus: "Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35).

Today, there are some tremendously ripe harvests in the world at different places just waiting to be harvested. But the window of opportunity is open only for brief periods of time. My challenge to all Christians today, is this: Be sensitive to ripening harvests. Test the grain. Get ready for the harvest. And then ask yourself this question: AM I HARVESTING THE WHEAT OR JUST MAINTAINING THE HARVESTER?

I sincerely hope this is a good day for you. If you'd like to write to me I'd be pleased to hear from you. My address is: P.O. Box 1540, Albany, W.A. 6331. Phone/Fax: (08) 9841 8418. Email: abl-alb@omninet.net.au