When we view row after row of food products at our nearest supermarket, seldom do we focus on the origin of the agricultural products on display. However, a plethora of neatly packaged food products often triggers a worship experience in your blog author. He was blessed to experience life on a farm as a young child. Our family lived next door to the 150-acre farm purchased by my grandfather in 1927 in central New York State. My personal presence was almost a ‘constant’ as I observed the many dimensions of agriculture on that farm. It was basically a dairy farm supported by plots of corn, wheat, oats, and pasturelands for the farm animals.
After many decades our family is still ‘connected’ to agriculture. Our 30-home housing development in eastern Iowa is embedded in a semi-rural area surrounded by corn and soybean fields. Iowa ranks second in agricultural productivity in the United States—second only to California. We experience a similar sense of worship when we study agricultural production—from initial soil preparation, planting, various stages of growth, and the current drying down of mature plants preliminary to the harvest.
Last spring the corn fields surrounding our housing development were carefully tended by farmers as they progressed from early spring planting to the oncoming autumn harvest. School children in our neighborhood are privileged to live in this semi-rural area. Their teachers are able to discuss both urban and rural life with their students. In addition, they may have triggered student desire to learn some of the basics of plant development and food production. This would be a far cry from being immersed in most social media activity. We are thankful for the public schools’ offerings of Future Farmers of America (FFA) clubs.
Agricultural crops such as corn thrive under the tender care of farmers. Memories of this care are enriched by our personal past experiences observing crop development from beginning to end. Seeds must be planted in correct soil conditions. Depending on latitude, early plantings could be susceptible to frosts or freezes. During the growing season, droughts or floods could impact crop development. Government agricultural agents advise farmers of the presence of fungal diseases or damage from insects and advice on how to respond to those hazards. Agents advise farmers on appropriate types and application of fertilizer—not too much, not too little. Hungry wildlife could also endanger the crop.
There are many scriptures instructing us concerning wise agricultural practices. Many instructions extol the value of hard, timely work: Proverbs 10:4, 12:11, and 14:23. Other instructions are more scientific from an observational standpoint, such as the regularity of seasons—cold and warm, summer and winter, day and night, seedtime and harvest: Genesis 8:22. Additional advice relates to planting crops in good soil: Mark 4.
Scripture is full of object lessons from the world of agriculture and horticulture. The references are based on our exercise of faith. We close with personal recollections from a memorable family business. My father was immersed in agriculture and horticulture most of his life. From 1951 to 1985, he developed a unique business after moving from New York State to New Jersey. He cleared a 13-acre plot of land on the farm he purchased primarily to raise sweet corn.
For many years our retail customers enjoyed high quality fresh sweet corn. My wife, a math teacher, and I, a science teacher, worked on the farm during the summer. At our roadside stand we were always intent on giving God the glory for the miracle of plant growth and the challenge of responsible creation care. Accordingly, during the last few years of our business, we distributed a newsletter to our customers entitled “Kernels of Truth.” After discussing a few issues related to successful sweet corn production, we made spiritual applications in our “Kernels” newsletter. We copy two meaningful paragraphs from our last two “Kernels”:
1984: WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN GROWING CORN?
Faith. Jesus Christ spoke of having faith as small as a grain of mustard seed in order to accomplish great things. To watch a tiny seed grow from insignificance to maturity and fruitfulness demands a considerable measure of faith. The same Jesus Christ spoke of an even more significant sphere in which we can exercise our faith when He said, “The true Bread is a Person — the one sent by God from heaven, and He gives life to the world…..I am the Bread of Life.” John 6:33 (The Living Bible)
1985: CLOSING COMMENT
While God has intended for us to have a satisfying life in this temporal sphere, including the best food treats, He has also provided abundantly in the sphere of the eternal. God’s word is fertile with agricultural and gastronomic object lessons. He wants us to have correct priorities. Jesus said, “Do not work for the food that spoils but for food that lasts to life eternal, such as the Son of Man will furnish you; for God the Father has placed His seal of approval on Him.” John 6:27 (Modern Language Version)
