Reapers and Sowers
We all benefit from the work of those who came before us.
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labour.’ Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.’ - John 4:27-42
When the disciples came to find Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman, they were shocked, but they didn't ask him anything about her. Instead, they wanted him to eat something.
They had gone off to find food, so that what what was on their minds. Yet, Jesus chose to take the time to remind them that the work they were chosen to do was started by others long ago. They were the beneficiaries of work done by others.
What that says is that they should not boast about the souls they are saving, but should be thankful instead.
That's true for all of us, isn't it? We all benefit form the work done by those who came before us, and we don't often think of them or the work they did that makes our jobs easier.
So, since we all reap the harvest of those who sowed seeds before us, should we not also sow seeds for those who come after us?
In talking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus was able to build on the faith she knew from her youth, and when she left, she was a believer, sowing seeds for others in her village.
To accomplish great things, we need to spread seeds and give them a chance to grow. Everything takes time, but f no one has a vision for the future, nothing will ever get better.
More to come...