December 4, 1901

Sowing and Reaping

EGW

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor; other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.”ST December 4, 1901, par. 1

Say not, when you have committed your seed to the ground. There are yet four months—the usual time between seed-sowing and harvest—and then comes the harvest. In speaking thus to the disciples, Christ was referring specially to the work to be done for the Samaritans. The Samaritan woman to whom He had been talking had left her water-pot and had gone into the city, to say to the people there, “Come, see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.” and “many of the Samaritans of that city believed on Him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.... They besought Him that He would tarry with them; and He abode there two days. And many more believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”ST December 4, 1901, par. 2

The coming of these people to Christ and their conversion to the truth was an object-lesson to the disciples, and it should teach an important lesson to all who are engaged in the work of soul saving. From it ministers should learn that God desires them to go forth into aggressive labor, that He has not given them the work of hovering over the churches, when close by there are souls who are perishing for lack of knowledge.ST December 4, 1901, par. 3

“And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor.” The Saviour spoke these words in anticipation of the ordination and sending forth of His disciples. The earthly work of the great Teacher was soon to close. The apostles were to follow after to perfect this work, to gather the fruit of the seed which He had sown. In the streets of the cities and in the synagogues Christ had been sowing the seeds of truth. The plan of salvation had been distinctly and clearly outlined; for the truth never languished on the Saviour's lips. As a result of His work an interest had been aroused. The disciples were to follow up the efforts of the divine Sower, reaping where He had sown, that both Sower and reapers might rejoice together.ST December 4, 1901, par. 4

Today in his great harvest-field God has need of both sowers and reapers. Let those who go forth into the work, some to sow and some to reap, remember that they are never to take to themselves the glory of the success of their work. God's appointed agencies have been before them, preparing the way for the sowing of the seed and the reaping of the harvest. “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor,” Christ said; “other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.”ST December 4, 1901, par. 5

Those who sow the seed, presenting before large and small gatherings the testing truths for this time, at the cost of much labor, may not always gather the harvest. After they have done their part, and they rest from their labors, other servants of God, going over the ground, reap the fruit of their seed-sowing, completing their work.ST December 4, 1901, par. 6

“He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.” Read these words carefully. Study their meaning; for they outline God's plan. Often the Lord's workers are bitterly opposed in their field of labor, and thus their work is hindered. They do their best. With earnest, painstaking effort they sow the good seed. But the element of opposition becomes fiercer and fiercer. Some may be convinced of the truth, but they are intimidated by the opposition. They have not the courage to acknowledge their conviction. The lives of the workers may be endangered by those who are controlled by Satan. It is then their privilege to follow the example of their Master, and go to another place. “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel,” Christ said, “till the Son of man be come.”ST December 4, 1901, par. 7

Let the messengers of truth pass on to another field. Here there may be a more favorable opportunity for work, and they may successfully accomplish the work of sowing and reaping. The report of their success will find its way to the place where the work was apparently unsuccessful, and the next messenger of truth who goes there will be more favorably received. The seed sown in trial and discouragement will be seen to have life and vitality. Adversity, sorrow, loss of property,—the changes of God's providence, recall to the minds of the people with vivid distinctness the word spoken many years before by the faithful servants of God. First will appear the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear.ST December 4, 1901, par. 8

The rejection of the truth of the Gospel by some prepares the way for its reception by others, who can see the weakness and inconsistency of the arguments used to make the truth of none effect. Thus those who seek to oppose the counsel of God are advancing rather than hindering the truth.ST December 4, 1901, par. 9

As food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, so is the doing of God's work to those who obey His will because they love Him. Those who are engaged in the work of the ministry are to give evidence that God has a message for them to bear and a work for them to do. They are to labor in the spirit of meekness, showing that they have learned in the school of Christ His lowliness of heart, carrying with them the evidence that they have been with Christ and learned of Him. “Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”ST December 4, 1901, par. 10

All parts of God's vineyard are to be worked. There is need of wise men and wise women, who will labor earnestly to accomplish the work committed to them. God will use them as His instruments in the conversion of souls. Some will sow, and some will reap the harvest of the seed sown. Let every one do his very best to improve his talents, that God may use him either as a sower or a reaper.ST December 4, 1901, par. 11

Mrs. E. G. White