Plant Today, Then Be Patient for the Harvest

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Financial Fitness

Plant Today, Then Be Patient for the Harvest By Rick Warren — Feb 16, 2015 “Let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest.” (Galatians 6:9 GNT) The time to start planting is now. I talk to people all the time who say, “One of these days, I’m going to …” They’re going to serve more one of these days. Or when they retire. Or when they get a raise. They’re going to increase their giving one of these days. “One of these days” is none of these days. You don’t wait for things to get better; you start planting now. Why? Because the sooner you plant, the longer you’re going to enjoy the harvest in your life. But the harvest is not always going to come in your time. There’s always a delay between sowing and reaping. You plant in one season, and you harvest in another. You have to be patient and not give up! This is one of the principles that the Kingdom of God operates on. Mark 4:26-29 says, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain — first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head” (NIV). The results will come, but they will come slowly and as part of a process. And because it takes time, “Let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest” (Galatians 6:9 GNT). Some of you have got to forget about last year’s crop failure. Instead, start focusing on the long-term harvest in your life. You didn’t get the way you are financially overnight. You took years to mess things up, and it’s going to take a while to put things back together. There is a time of delay between sowing and reaping. The Bible says in Psalm 126:5-6, “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest” (NLT). What need have you been grieving over? Maybe you’ve lost your job. Maybe you’ve lost your health. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one. Maybe you’ve lost your savings. Maybe you’ve lost half of your retirement in the last few years. Maybe you’ve lost your dream. Mourning is ok; moaning is not. Instead of moaning, you need to plant a seed, because whatever you need more of you need to give away. Today is the day to plant the seed. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over If you could give financial advice to your younger self, what would you say? What can you learn from your financial mistakes that you can apply to your situation now? What would you have time to start doing today to move forward with your finances if you were able to let go of your past mistakes and financial failures? What is it that you want to receive more of in your life? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy_aw6qJ_3U How can you plant that seed and give yourself away today so that you will one day reap your own harvest? God is at Work for You TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Too often, we think God is just out there — watching and waiting for us to get things right. God is a big God, but He loves you and He wants to help bring the best things possible into your life. God is at work in your life each and every day, blessing you and preparing you for great and wonderful things that you can’t even imagine! Your entire perspective will radically change when you realize God is in your everyday experiences. Even when we are not completely faithful to Him, He is always faithful to us! Make God your hope and rely solely on Him, and He’ll faithfully work things out that will bless you, protect you and encourage you! A PRAYER FOR TODAY God, thank You for always having my best in mind. I know that You love me and want the best for Your children. Help me to be faithful to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.