The Farm of our Soul

   Farmers have known since the beginning of time that there are five things needed to raise a good crop.  Those are good soil; good seed; sun; rain; and hard work.  The farm of our soul requires these same things if we are to produce the good fruit of the Gospel.

   Without good soil there is no use in planting good seed for it will fail.  Jesus, in the parable of the sower tells us the same is true of our soul (see Matthew, chapter 13).  If we don’t take the time to understand His word, we can’t practice it.  If we don’t look to the depth of His word we have no roots and the seed will die.  If we hear the word but we allow worldly trials and difficulties to overwhelm it we will lose it.  The soil of our soul must be prepared to hear, understand, and endure some suffering if we are to produce good fruit.

   Even in good soil, bad seed doesn’t grow properly.  The seed of the world can never produce good fruit it can only smother out the good with the evil.  Even a cursory look at society today shows the truth and tragedy of the bad seed planted among us.  If we aren’t strong in our faith, the bad seed may overtake the good and rob us of the chance to produce the fruit Jesus asks of us.

   Without the warmth of the sun, plants won’t grow.  We have the Son of God who can provide everything necessary to encourage our spiritual growth.  He gives us all that is required to properly farm the soil of our soul.  Without Him as our first priority our crop will surely fail.

   Without rain the crop will wither and die.  If we are to grow good fruit we need rain in our lives as well.  It may come as the peaceful shower of God’s love or as the storm of temptation, trial and difficulty.  The gentle shower will water our soul while the storm can strengthen our faith in the face of hardship.

  Though we may have good soil, good seed, sun and rain, without hard work we will not produce the fruits of the gospel.  We must begin each day, just as the grower does, by looking at what needs to be done this day to improve our crop.  A farmer who only works one day a week will fail to raise a good crop.  A Christian who practices their faith only on Sunday will fail to produce good fruit.

   Fertilize the soil of your soul with prayer.  Plant the good seed of the word of God. Look to the Son to provide warmth and love.  Face the rain and grow through the times of difficulty.  Be willing to take on the hard work of overcoming the trials that will surely come.  Just as the farmer must do these things to produce a good crop the Christian must also do these things to produce the fruits of the Word of God.