**Read my latest post: Raising Thankful Hearts in an Ungrateful World**
Avoiding tractors and combines on the roadways; watching the crop dusters skim past the power lines, their misty spray trailing behind; huge fires in the distance disintegrating those once vibrant cornstalks into ash; and the smell…there’s a strange smell outside that is just hard to explain; I could go on and on. If you live in an agricultural farming community, you probably recognize all of these things. It’s a part of living here in the heartland. And it’s a part of what we call the “harvest” season.
Farmers are hard at work getting their harvest in before winter. There are many lessons to be had from this simple season. Just as Jesus used simple, ordinary things to teach the parables, we can take these this beautiful season and teach our kids (and ourselves) some important spiritual principles.
Spiritual Lessons from the Harvest
When we see the rows and rows of bright cotton that covers the landscape like snow, we know it’s harvest time. This is what I think of when the Bible says the fields are white and ready for harvest (John 4:35). The word “harvest” is a call to action; ask any farmer. If you wait too long: rain, cold weather, or bugs might just destroy your crop. All that hard work is lost.
Words to know:
Harvest: what the crop yields; spiritual harvest-souls who need Jesus
Laborers: workers who bring in the harvest; spiritual- people willing to work for the Lord
Sowing: planting seeds that will grow; Spiritual- laborers who tell others about Jesus
#1 Be a Missionary: Jesus calls believers to pray for and work in the harvest (the souls ready to hear the Gospel). Teach kids to have a missionary mindset, whether it’s at home, the park, or somewhere across the world. Start young so that as they grow they will be open to God’s direction in this area. Give them tracts to hand out or leave for others. Being a missionary is taking God’s Word to the lost. The “harvest” is ready (Luke 10:2)! We need those laborers to work and bring it in. Sing this song. Let’s raise our kids with a heart for others. Always ready to tell them about Jesus and do whatever it takes to win souls.
Scripture: Matthew 9:37–38
Key Thought: Jesus calls believers to pray for and work in the harvest.
Discussion/Reflection: How can I be a laborer for Jesus right now? Why does Jesus want us to pray for more workers?
Activity: Write names of people you can pray for and reach out to this week.
#2 Sow: You can never harvest your beautiful, white cotton if you don’t plant the seed. We have a choice of what we sow. We can sow worldly seed or spiritual seed. Be careful what you sow, because what we plant — in words, attitudes, and actions — will grow. Some “seeds” have bad consequences. Let’s sow the seeds of eternal life by living our life for Jesus and telling others about him.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7-8
Scripture: Galatians 6:7-8
Discussion/Reflection
> What kinds of “seeds” am I planting each day
> Why is patience important in waiting for a harvest?
Hands-on Idea: Plant fast-growing seeds (like beans) and talk about how small actions grow into visible results.
#3 Preparation: Proverbs 6:6-11 gives us an important lesson about laziness and procrastination. The ant is a great study for kids. We can see that the tiny little ant works so hard in the summer when it would be much easier to float along in the sunshine and take it easy. Like the ant, we have to think of the future. Work hard now, and the future will be much brighter! Kids: study hard and learn all you can; when you are older, you can apply that knowledge and live an abundant life. These principles can apply to the physical (jobs, money, debt, etc.) as well as spiritual (wisdom, integrity, knowledge, etc.). So many opportunities for lessons from these verses.
Scripture: Proverbs 6:6
Discussion/Reflection:
> How can you be like the ant in your daily life?
>What’s something God wants you to work harder or more faithfully at this week?
Hands-on Idea: Write Proverbs 6:6 on a small card and decorate it with an ant border.
Making Proverbs Come Alive: Bible Study Resources and Favorite Verses to Memorize
#4 Gratitude: Psalm 67:5-6 (and many other verses) remind us to praise the Lord. Praising God is showing our thanks and gratitude to Him for all He’s done for us. When we praise Him, he will bless us and we will reap an increase in our life.
Scripture: Psalms 67:5–7
Discussion/Reflection:
>How does gratitude invite God’s blessing?
>What blessings has God already provided in your life?
Activity: Create a “Harvest of Thanks” jar — write blessings on paper and add them daily.
More Harvest Scriptures to Study
Genesis 8:22
Matthew 13:2
Psalm 126:5–
Proverbs 10:
Hosea 10:1
2 Corinthians 9:1
John 4:36
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･Lord, help us sow good seeds with our words, work faithfully in Your harvest, and raise children who love You with all their hearts.°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
