Producing Seeds
After freezing 22 pints of corn, 8 pints of beets, and 5 quarts of beans, and canning 16 quarts and 27 pints of dill pickles today, Becky is ready to be done with the garden for the summer. That’s ok because the garden is just about done producing as well. And now that the crop is mature and the season late, it is time to focus on another important part of our garden harvest, the seeds. We purposefully leave a half dozen ears of corn on the stalk and about 6 giant cucumbers on the vine as seed for next year. In addition, we skip the last harvest of peas and the last harvest of beans for that same purpose. Our daughter was concerned this evening when we took a bike ride to turn on the water at the garden because we were not watering the beans. But it was ok because we are letting the old, mature plants die so that the seed can be harvested and stored for years to come.
Most older Christians I know are concerned about their age, their physical aches and pains, and their inability to produce. But just like the plants bearing fruit in the garden, it’s ok when your body starts to fail. This is not the time in your life for new fruit. This is the time for mature fruits to develop into seeds. God doesn’t need the old folks to set up the tables and chairs for the church fellowship. God doesn’t need the old folks to run around and make the Bible school lessons interactive with the kids at Bible school. God doesn’t need the old folks to push the vacuum, mow the lawn, or climb up on the ladder to change the lightbulbs in the auditorium. God needs the old folks to redirect their ministry from the obvious ministries that everyone sees to the more subtle, and I might say “more meaningful”, ministries that produce seeds of faith in the upcoming generations.
If you are an older Christian and are reading this, I encourage you to look at what you can do in your maturity to produce seeds. Here are a few ministries for you.
You can pray. Pray for your children and your grandchildren. Pray for the kids in your church. Pray for your neighbors that are too busy to come to church. Pray for all of them to get saved and get right with the Lord! While you are at it, don’t forget to pray for your pastor and all of those younger people who are still working hard bearing fruit.
You can visit. Visit those folks that are older than you in the nursing home and take some time to read them God’s word and pray with them. Invite a young family over and encourage them with a simple conversation and your story about how you met Jesus.
You can invite. Call up your neighbors and invite them to come to church. Some older Christians have accepted digital devices. If you are one of them, share your church services with your contacts and invite them to hear the gospel!
If you are an older Christian, it might be time to stop bearing fruit. That’s ok. Just be sure that you are producing seeds.
“He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6