El Proveedor

The Provider. I have seriously been amazed in the timing of God. I am sensitive to these things lately, and I am also sensitive to burdens. Burdens of others, burdens for others, human burdens, and burdens that God has placed on my heart. I’m not a sad person, nor heavily pressed or weighed down. I just can’t help but feel the agony of the reality. It may be because I care.

One burden that I have been carrying lately is the burden of fruit. this burden has been a deceiving one though. I’ve had the burden of seeing the fruit, of being able to control it, and getting the results that should be expected. I am quite mathematically minded when A + B = C, then A + B = C no matter what. That “C” hasn’t been showing up in the form of a “C” or in any form at all in some circumstances.

This past Tuesday, we had our weekly meeting with the pastor. He always has a message for us usually based out of a Pauline letter. Two weeks before, I meant to thank him for his message, this week I couldn’t not thank him because it was meant for me.

Based out of I Corinthians 15:58:

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

What I had been deceived by this burden I soon was shown the truth. The pastor said that if any of us aren’t seeing fruit, it doesn’t mean that we should change what we are doing. We should “stand firm.” Our job is not to harvest, but rather to plant the seed. Others may see the harvest, we may see the harvest, but either way it is not our responsibility. He said to never think that our work is in vain. Don’t let the devil get to us like that.

It’s easy to question this work. Especially when you’re constantly giving and never getting. When no one comes to church, when people tell you yes, but don’t come through (maldito el hombre que fia en los hombres!) when you can’t see change, when all is stagnant.

Yes, it’s easy to question. When there’s so little support coming your way, not because of unwillingness but because of inability to relate. When you’re not in your element. When there are huge distractions. When giving up is so close. When the countdown til the end begins.

It’s easy to question. But I’m not here to do the easy stuff. It’s hard to stand firm, it’s hard to recognize that this is not in vain. Doing the hard stuff is what makes sense here. This isn’t in vain, it’s also not our harvest, it’s His.

I thought last week in our empty church service, “I’m here to worship. And without shame or embarrassment I will worship regardless if anyone is here to worship with me.”

I printed that verse out. It’s hanging in my closet space. I can’t ever forget that I am the planter and nothing else. And I will continue without shame to plant and plant and plant the Word of Christ in others.

You too should consider yourself a planter in God’s eyes. If you’re not planting, with what will the Harvest come?