It was just an ordinary piece of land, grown over with weeds of every description and sadly neglected for years. Accepting the offer of the ground, we set to work to clear it, and weeks of real hard work it was. Then it was duly planted, hoed and looked after, and the results were most satisfactory in the quality and quantity of the crops that were reaped.
There were also other things learned in working this old piece of ground which have greatly encouraged us in a wider sphere of cultivation. The servant of Christ is oft discouraged as he surveys the ground of his labor which the Lord has assigned to him. But in hope he plows and digs and cleans, and back-aching and heartbreaking work it is oft-times. This may be your line of things and as far as you are concerned no fruit will ever be seen as a result of your labor. But it is after all the most important, this breaking up, this preparation for the seed to be sown.
Again, beloved servant of Christ, you too may not be privileged to see any result of the sowing year after year of the precious incorruptible seed, but this too is most necessary. Or your part may be to watch over the first shoots as they appear, and how gentle and patient must you be, giving each its proper treatment, in order to bring them on and get them established. And yet again you may see no fruition to your labors.
And now finally the fruit, the blooms, the harvest, here it is, and thou, most honored of all servants, to thee it is given to gather. Souls are thine and joy in heaven as each and all are brought in, but in bringing these to the Lord of the harvest remember His word, " Other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors." He that soweth and he that reapeth will rejoice together, and He Who sent them will tell each and all to enter into the joy of their Lord.
Let us therefore each one go on in the sphere where He has told us to work, conscious that every day's work is to the one end and not one will be wasted or lost. " The harvest is great," we are told, which indicates that many beforehand have labored, but now He says, " Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers." Let us bend more to our task, in the consciousness that it is the Lord's work, that we are His servants and whether it be obscure, humble or honored, let us keep going by the grace that He gives in the dignity of the servants of Christ.
" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15: 58.