Fields of Gold; Mind Your Soil and Cast Your Seed!
Vincent Van Gogh produced a series of studies of field labors during the mid-1880s. He held them up to a high standard because of the humble dedication in which they approached their work. He saw plowing, sowing, and harvesting symbolic to man’s efforts to overwhelm the cycles of nature. Isn’t that a beautiful thought? The lowly and humble are revered because of their influence on nature.
Well, Jesus does the same thing for us in Matthew chapter 13. There are seven parables featured in this chapter and the first one becomes the focal point of this topic; The Parable of the Sower. The poignancy of this parable is still as effective as it was the day that Jesus said it. It is filled with instruction, motivation, and reasons to head His call.
He tells us, that we are sowers - we are owners of our own fields, we are responsible to tend the soil, pull the weeds, pitch the rocks, and cast the seeds. It's a lot of work. But the grace comes in the production - we are not responsible for the fruit of our efforts - that's just not our job. We are only responsible to show up as farmers. The results, we leave to Him. And through it all, we as farmers, reap the great blessing of our faithful work. Who but God would be so kind to give us this great analogy and monumental blessing? No one.
My Father, He has given to me a field to call my own,
A plot of land, which is my life to tend 'till I'm called home.'
So many rocks and pebbles too, are hidden in the ground
And I must mine them earnestly - they must not be around.
But even more, those wandering weeds that seem so harmless and green;
They choke and hinder the growth of the seed and much of it goes unseen.
My Father, He has given to me a field to call my own,
A plot of land, which is m life to tend 'till I'm called home.
