PRAYING AND PLANTING FOR AN ABUNDANT HARVEST
The same Bible that teaches us to pray, “give us this day our daily bread” says “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” (2 Thes. 3:10) James was getting at that same idea when he said that faith without works is dead. Merely praying for someone in need when you can meet the need yourself is an abdication of your responsibility. (James 2:14-17) God answers prayers through partners.
Praying and Partnership
God likes partnership. He rarely does anything without a human partner. Nevermind all the examples in the Bible of God doing dramatic miracles in partnership with a person, think about everyday providence. Where do you get your food? God partners with the farmer and the cook.
The farmer plants seed, tends soil and pulls weeds. God makes things grow and multiply in abundance. The farmer harvests the food, gets it to the market and sells it to the chef. The chef cooks it up and the waiter brings it to your table.
Oh, and don’t forget that you can’t order in the restaurant if you don’t pay the bill. You had to work to get the money or you have to grow your own food. Faith and work. Prayer and partnership. We ask God and he provides, but he partners with all of us to do it. That’s what the Apostle Paul meant when he told the the Corinthian Church:
God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. (2 Corinthians 9:10)
God’s specialty is multiplying
God provides for you and through you in the same way. So don’t give up praying for your own needs, but don’t think praying is enough. While you are at it, ask God to provide our church with the 2.6 million dollars we need to build out the Ranch, but don’t think he is going to do it without you. You and I are the answer to our own prayers. Good thing we have God as our partner! His specialty is multiplying. Pray for a great harvest on Easter, but come with your contribution or pledge in hand.
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