[First published 03-03-2024]
By Jude Ayua
Introduction
Nature teaches us a lot about life. In Jesus’s teachings, he used natural phenomena to explain deep spiritual mysteries. In the parables of The Sower (Luke 8:4-8; 11-15), The Mustard Seed (Matthew 13: 31–32), and The Weeds (Mark 4:26-29), Jesus used planting or farming to teach spiritual lessons. This means that farming can teach us meaningfully. What can we learn from farming?
If you plan to harvest fruits in the future, you must plant a seed in the present. This planting must be done in the right season and the seed must be exposed to the most favorable environmental conditions. You must also consciously tend it to flourish. You can tend it in two ways: supplying the soil around it with manure and protecting the growing plant from weeds, pests, rodents, and attacks. You must also patiently wait for the harvest time to enjoy the fruit of your labor. If your plant survives harsh natural occurrences, it will flourish and yield its fruits in due season.
How can you apply these principles to your life’s endeavors? In this series, we will reflect on Isaiah 5:1-7 to apply lessons from the Vineyard.
