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And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. Mark 4:26-29

In an age of instant gratification this parable seems counter cultural. After all, who has time to wait for God's blessing? One may question the wisdom of farming but the law of sowing and reaping was established by God, revealing his divine wisdom. Is fruit really worth waiting on? Can we trust God with a process that takes so long and is subject to so many variables for success? Let's face it, sowing and reaping is not the work of the faithless but the faithful.

Jesus spoke these words after his famous discussion we call the "Parable of the Sower." We can find the parable of the sower in Matthew, Mark and Luke but God only reveals the process of growing fruit in Mark. It is reserved for the faithful servant. The man or woman who enters the field by faith. This passage reminds us that fruitfulness is not an overnight process but a patient waiting on our Lord. Observation of the soil and distribution of the seed is very important but ultimately some sow, some water but God gives the increase.

When Paul wrote to Timothy he said, "The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things." (2 Timothy 2:6-7) Long before harvest there must be labor. Before labor there must be a purchase. Before a husbandman plants a seed he has spent time preparing the soil. After planting a seed, there must be attention giving to caring for the crop. All of this effort goes into praying for rain and trusting God will grant favorable conditions and a good yield on the investment.

Faith in God is one of the greatest ingredients to seeing fruit. We know that "… without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Without faith we cannot move beyond looking at the field. Without faith we are not endowed with the courage to risk failure and the utter humiliation should God not fulfill his word. Without faith we will never place all our proverbial eggs in God's basket. It is faith, that causes one not only to look on the field but to purchase the field. It's one thing to get on Zillow and look at properties but it is another thing to open up the saving account, put down earnest money on a property you've been looking at. When we make an investment it impacts our life, it commands our resources and it captivates our time and attention. The scripture says "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:31, Luke 12:34) Investing in the Kingdom of God is a step of faith that ends up impacting our heart as much as those we invest in.

So how are we doing? Have we considered a field? Are we prepared to buy it? There are many places to invest that on the outset look problematic but once viewed through eyes of faith become fruitful fields of investment. Some might consider the investment of God's word into children "beneath" them while others may be petrified to trust God to feed the lambs for a variety of reasons ranging from fear to faithlessness. Children's ministry is a great place to invest as the seed of God's word will not touch a more tender soil. There is not a richer place to invest than in the souls of God's little lambs. There are other fields that may seem hard or difficult, but at length by God's grace bear fruit. Imparting life in a devotion at volleyball, a women's or men's bible study, in the Prisoners of hope ministry or across the table in discipleship one is a great place to see God bring eternal return on investment.

Beyond the context of the local church there are many places in our sphere of influence that call on us to enter the field by faith. Daily, with wisdom, patience and intentionality. Sowing the word of God in our workplace, school and among our family and friends is not for the faint of heart. We are tempted to become weary in well doing but we don't because we gather weekly, if not several times per week to join the pep rally at HBF we call "church". Beyond that the intentional training and teaching you gain in your Adult Bible Fellowship and specific ministry groups serve to equip you in the places you spend hours each day with souls Jesus died to save. Because of a faith filled view of our opportunity to invest, God allows us to see people and places in our communities that look like problems turn in to fruit filled trophies of grace.

We haven't even begun to discuss the opportunities to see God work in the fertile soil of the foreign field. Perhaps God is calling you to invest in one of the foreign or domestic mission trips offered through HBF this year. London, Cambodia, Malawi, Monmouth? Jesus has paid the price; we simply are called to preach to those Jesus has already died to save. What a great privilege to plow in fields no man has plowed. Those opportunities were precious to Paul and they should be precious to us. (Romans 15:20) Some may be interested in a new opportunity to minister to the children of our community through "Good News Club." If you are see Barbara and Larry Boucher and they can connect you and direct you to the training schedule so you can see God bring fruit in the fertile field of the public school system.

Investing by faith requires more than individual effort, it requires group effort. Unity among the saints is paramount when it comes to seeing God fruit ready for the harvest. No Christian is an island and this is well illustrated through the discipleship and ministry model of Jesus, the apostles and the churches that remained in their wake. Will we share the responsibility with others who are called into the field? After all Paul planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). What farmer sees his crop come in without help from a host of laborers? Will we establish believers in the word, fellowship, the local church and ministry? Just as a loving environment is necessary to see fruit in our homes, so too, a loving family of faith is the best environment to see young saints grow into responsible faith filled fruit bearers for Christ. This is not only a practical aspect of a churches environment in growing disciples but our witness to the world. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35)

God's divine timing is important when it comes to investing. Our life is a vapor and the lives of those with whom we have to invest burn bright for a season, then fade upon the memories of yester year. We all have one life, one opportunity, young or old, rich or poor to invest. The opportunity to invest in the Kingdom of God is ours only while we have it. Paul wrote to the Romans in chapter 11 and verse 25 and spoke of the "…fullness of the Gentiles being come in." It will not be long until the window of opportunity to bear fruit in the Kingdom of God during the church age closes. Any day we could expect to hear the trump of the Lord sound and the dead in Christ rise incorruptible as we are caught up together with them in the air. While we wait for the blessed hope of the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) we invest, knowing that the reason we have been left here is to please God with a faithful and fruit filled walk. Like Enoch may it be said, we "walked with God" (Genesis 5:22) faithfully each day of our life.

While it is not ours to understand every facet of how God brings forth eternal life through the preaching, teaching and living of his word, it is only that we obey and invest in the word of God and the souls of men (women and children) by faith until Christ returns. As we consider this we remember, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now, is our salvation nearer than when we believed." (Romans 13:11) Investing in the Kingdom of God may not bring instant gratification but it sure does being eternal gratification as we seek to please the one who has invested everything in us. May this article find you filled with faith as we trust God together this year to see fruit, much fruit and fruit that remains. (John 15:5-8) Invest by faith trusting God to the miraculous work of bringing an increase.