“The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from the nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

~Galatians 6:8-10 (NIV)

A person can never truly appreciate the bloom of a rose without the work of another hand.  There is always someone who has planted a seed, watered the seed, weeded the garden, taken care of the soil, and harvested the plant.  We all need to make sure that in the act of our sowing, we are sowing for the Lord.  He is the One who sees our heart and knows our intentions.  May we sow out of the overflow of goodness that God has done in our own lives.  May we plant seeds of joy, peace, and love.  May we not look for the harvest, but know that God has plans that far exceed what we can comprehend.  Read the following story and see what I mean.

Farmer Fleming And a Nobleman
by: Author Unknown, Source Unknown

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer.  One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog.  He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

“I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.”

“No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.

At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked.

“Yes,” the farmer replied proudly.

“I’ll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he’ll grow to a man you can be proud of.”

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming’s son graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the nobleman’s son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill.

One small whimper was heard, so the farmer responded.  Do you respond to the whimpers you hear all around you?  Trust me there are people crying out for God’s love in every direction.  Will you attend to their cries?  Also, did you see how the farmer responded when the nobleman came to repay him for the good deed?  He did not need recognition or a reward.  He was happy to know he was there to save the son’s life.  Please don’t look for a reward in what you do.  If you seek after the rewards on this earth, you will miss out on the rewards in eternity.

The farmer received a reward of greater value than he could comprehend.  His son received an education and because of that he was able to help more people than he could imagine through the discovery of Penicillin.  What will you help someone discover? You never know what your small act of kindness will reproduce in years to come!

Lord, I pray that I will not seek recognition on this earth, but that I will continue to seek after the things that please Your heart.  May I continue to run after You and find the ways that You want to use me here on this earth.  I pray that every day I will find ways to sow a seed, water a seed, stir up the soil, or harvest a plant for You.  It’s all to Your glory!

All my rewards are in Your hands Lord Jesus,

Sarah