Week 5- The Law of the Harvest

Scriptures:

Matthew 25

Galatians 6:7

Mosiah 7: 30-31

D&C 6: 33-36

Psalm 126: 5-6

General Conference Address:  

“Take Especial Care of Your Family” Neal A. Maxwell CR 4/1994

“For Whatsoever a Man Soweth, That Shall He Also Reap” L. Tom Perry CR 10/1980

Thought:

The Law of the Harvest used to be intuitively understood.  But the further we get from growing up on farms, the less and less we can relate.  Perhaps one of the reasons we are encouraged to grow gardens at home is to help remind us of this principle.  We have to understand that we can only reap what we sow and that faith dictates that the success of the harvest is, to a great degree, out of our control and in God’s hands.  It is a great example of working like it depends on us and obeying and praying like it depends on the Lord. 

Missionary work is a wonderful laboratory for the Law of the Harvest.  You get to prepare the ground, plant the seeds, weed, water, and pray for favorable conditions that will yield a bountiful harvest.  Pay attention to the day-to-day grind and the lessons to be learned as you get to know the Lord of the Harvest.  

Misc: 

For something to grow, you need soil, seed, water, sun, time, and the elimination of the weeds. You have to prepare the soil and accurately decide where to plant the seed. This is all about the environment and choosing the right seed for that environment. You're not going to grow oranges in Utah. Sorry. The seed represents what end result you want. Pick the right seed to get the right fruit. Water is next. You have to water it just often enough, but not too often, and you can only know for sure by getting your finger dirty and digging into the soil. You have to check the soil and keep it moist. If you don't watch over it, if you neglect it, the seed will die. The Sun is about faith in God. We can't control it, and we all need light and energy. Be both positive and positive. Positive that it will work and have a positive attitude. Next, we have to pull out the weeds. Sin, like weeds, robs the soil of nutrients, clutters the space, and can eventually block out the light. Sin is like weeds. Distractions are weeds. Bad influences are weeds. Repent and get rid of them. Time is next. We can't keep digging up the seed to watch it grow. Be patient, give it time, and remember that it takes time to grow. Finally, enjoy the harvest and keep some seeds for next year. Don't eat the seed corn. Self-reliance is critical.

Invitation: 

Find a way to teach this law to those you are teaching.  Increasingly, the world is teaching us that we deserve things. There is no power in entitlement.  Power comes from work, sacrifice, and exercising faith. Teach them that and invite them to try it.