Life as a Christian Woman

Bringing in the Sheaves

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves,

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Words by Knowles Shaw, Music by George A. Minor

Remember the old hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves?” That song used to totally confound me! What in the world did farming have to do with church?

I haven’t thought much about that hymn in years. It isn’t sung much in modern churches. But as I was preparing to write today, I was thinking about planting seeds in peoples’ hearts and realized just how much of Christianity can be compared to the various acts involved in farming.

In farming, we till the soil, preparing it for the seed. In Christianity, we pray for hearts to be softened, to be prepared to hear God’s words of eternal truth. If we don’t do this necessary preparation of prayer, we are throwing seeds upon the hard ground.

In farming, we place the seed in the ground, and cover it with soil. In Christianity, we tell our story of redemption, of healing and love, to those who are lost. Then, once we have planted that seed, we cover the seed in prayer.

In farming, we water, fertilize, nurture the soil to aid the seed in it’s development. In Christianity, we continue to nurture the hearts of the lost through contact, testimony and prayer.

In farming, some of the plants, despite water and sun, wither and die. In Christianity, Satan’s control over the lost can be so powerful as to keep someone from realizing the fact of eternal salvation.

And finally, in farming, at the end of the season, we bring in the harvest. In Christianity, we hope to see the harvest of souls when we meet our Heavenly Father.

We may never see the results of the seeds we have planted, at least not here on earth. But imagine the joy when sitting at the Father’s feet, when you come face-to-face with someone who you prayed for, witnessed to. Talk about a happy day!

Now re-read the words to the hymn “Bringing in the Sheaves,” printed at the top of this blog. Makes a lot of sense, huh?