Two-minute read.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
Proverbs 10:5
“When opportunity knocks, we gotta be ready to go,” I told a friend while playing tennis. An unexpected issue at Ron’s work meant we had to take a trip to the beach at the last minute. Everything happened quickly; in less than 24 hours, we pointed the car toward the ocean. Taking advantage of opportunities equals gathering in the summer. We must expect God’s blessings and prepare for them in advance.
When a farmer plants seeds, he expects them to grow and produce a harvest. Only a fool sleeps through the gathering time, not preparing for the eventual outcome. While the seeds grow, the diligent person prepares his barns for the harvest, which takes work. Then, when the time comes, the farmer reaps his reward as he brings in the crops, fills the storehouse to the rooftop, and provides for himself during the lean times ahead when the fields remain dormant.
In an industrialized world, we must keep our storehouses clean and our bodies healthy so that when the Lord calls, we can go. You never know when God will interrupt your daily routine with an unexpected blessing, but you can stay ever ready and vigilant for when He does. Then, at a moment’s notice, you can harvest the crop and reap the reward of your diligent effort, not sleeping through the harvest and missing out on the blessing but enjoying it thoroughly.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for honoring our diligence with abundant harvests. Please help us stay focused and obedient during the growing period, allowing us to prepare for Your blessings and receive our just rewards. Let us not sleep through the harvest but gather wisely in the summer.
IJNIP. Amen
