Harvest 2012

Harvest 2012

The New Testament is full of references to various aspects of agriculture of which John Chapter 15 is just one example. Another is Jesus likening himself to a vine and His Father to a gardener. However, if we search the Old Testament we come across little gems like the book of Ruth, which also draws heavily on the rural scene and has a lot of instructions within its chapters.  Ruth also happens to be a good story with a very tough beginning but a wonderful outcome.

Put briefly, Naomi is living in Judah with her husband and two sons. When famine strikes, the family migrates to Moab. It is a decision that does not turn out well, for although the boys married, first their father and then they themselves die. So Naomi decides to return to the land from which she came.

The two widowed daughters-in-law, of whom one is Ruth, follow tradition and set out with their mother-in-law for Judah since they now consider themselves to be part of their husbands’ family. But Naomi decides to release them from that obligation, despite which Ruth chooses to stays with her for the journey to her new home.

Ruth follows Naomi’s instruction and starts to fit in with her life and so she goes gleaming for corn following on behind the harvesters and collecting what has been missed.  As a result she meets Boaz the owner of the field where she is working. A happy coincidence that he should come to that field on that day at just the time when he can see and meet Ruth. Perhaps however, like me, you think that it is something much more significant than mere coincidence.

Boaz, who is one of the wealthiest men in Bethlehem, in due course marries Ruth and two generations later a grandson David is born who is subsequently crowned King.  Some 28 generations later chapter 1 of St Matthew’s gospel tells us that Jesus is a direct descendent of David and hence Ruth.

We again can ask ourselves again whether this is a coincidence or do we see here God at work? I suggest that what the story of Ruth tells us is that obedience to God leads to a rich harvest, and that it is no coincidence that the young widow gleamed for her mother-in-law because it was her duty but also out of love became an ancestor of Jesus the Christ.  Incidentally, she also became one of only two females to have a book in the Bible named after her, the other being Esther.

Jesus himself uses the analogy of a vine and its branches to paint his own agricultural harvest picture for us to consider. He tells us that if we are to bear fruit then we need to obey his commandments. Naomi and her family followed their own path instead of choosing to rely on God’s provision. In doing this they followed an identical path to many others. 

As a result of her decision Naomi found herself widowed and childless. That was not a punishment but just the outcome of the choice she made. However she had the chance to salvage something from what must have seemed like a disaster. She made the decision to return to the land where God was in charge and he gave her a faithful companion to accompany her.

And so it came to pass Naomi bore fruit by her sound advice to Ruth which was in accordance with the law and custom of the day. Ruth also bore fruit because of her obedience both to her obligations to Naomi and then, because she followed Naomi’s guidance. Their harvests came by following the path God laid out for them - although in Naomi’s case, after a false start!

What of us? Well, if we are to bear fruit then we are given guidance by St. Paul as to what that fruit might be. He tells us that certain characteristics are to be sought after. If we are truly going to look to loving our neighbours as ourselves, then we need to bear harvests that come from being both companions and imitators of Jesus.

We will need to show others the sort of love that Jesus displayed by his life and ministry. We will need to be people of peace, and to display patience, kindness and goodness. What that requires is the sort of gentleness and self-control that keeps us both joyful and faithful to our Master.

If we look around us, we shall see ample evidence that the alternatives are all too easy to find, and they are not a pretty sight.   However, rather than be dragged down by them and instead following Ruth’s example of faithfulness in the face of adversity, we can by our response to Jesus make a positive difference not just to our own lives but to the lives of others.  That is the sort of personal harvest we need to produce.  It is also the harvest our church needs to gather in.