Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.
James 5:7 (NIV)
The Land Yielding Crops
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, “In Canada, agriculture is an important industry. Only about 7 per cent of Canada’s land can be farmed. Other marginal land can be used to ranch cattle. Aquaculture operations are found on the East and West Coasts and in the Great Lakes. Some crops such as tomatoes … and flowers are grown in greenhouses in urban centres. Canadian agriculture faces many challenges. Some of these challenges concern crop protection, soil conservation, labour, climate change and health.”
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My property backs onto a farm. I love sitting on my back patio this time of the year as the farmer works to prepare the soil and then plants the crops that will flourish for the next 6 months until he harvests – usually corn one year and soybeans the next. The farmer works hard, prays for just the right amount of rain and then patiently waits. It has always been so for the agricultural sector. In James 5:7 we read “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” God compares our spiritual lives to the annual rhythm of crops planted in a field. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, God plants a crop of spiritual fruit in our lives. Yesterday we discovered that God’s Word is the rain and dew that provide moisture and nutrients to help us flourish. We have a part to play in God’s work in us – we must water that garden with time in God’s Word, and we must wait patiently for Jesus’ coming.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley