Monthly Archives: April 2012

Lessons from Dirt

The idea of sowing and reaping has been on my mind lately. I once heard a speaker tell the story of a man who had been given a pot of dirt by a farmer with specific instructions for its care. The man made sure it received the right amount of water, light, and fertilizer according to instructions. After months of this routine and no signs of growth, the man told the farmer that he must be doing something wrong because nothing had happened after so many months. He was told to continue the routine. Months turned into years, and the man again sought advice from the farmer, and again was told to continue caring for the pot of dirt. One morning after three years of diligent care, the man saw that the plant had grown three feet overnight.  This continued day after day until it became a 40-foot tree. What the man could not see was that all of his work was creating a thriving root system that had been developing over the long three years. 

There are times we may be working for something or praying for someone without seeing results, but we need to remember that things are happening that we cannot see.  Our own “pots of dirt” will one day turn into something incredible if we remain faithful. That same truth holds during those times when we may see people being dishonest or hurting and cheating others.  We don’t see the damage to themselves that is taking place. It may look like they already have pots of gold, but weakness and decay lie beneath. It says in Galatians 6:7: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap.” I’m thankful we can hold onto this promise!