We all know how hard farmers work. Long days and short nights are common, with little outside appreciation or praise.

We do it out of love for the calling within us. There is nothing that brings us more joy than to see a newborn calf lying by its mother in a green pasture, or a field of lush green corn or soybeans that will hopefully keep us going financially for another year.

What a blessing to gather our own eggs, eat our own produce and raise a God-fearing family. But sometimes things don’t always go well. There will be droughts, floods, tornadoes and family crises. These are the times we have to ask: “Why?”

It happens to all of us at one time or another. That’s when we have to look to the One who blesses us with prosperity, gives us power through the Holy Spirit and causes us to be strong and courageous. 

2 Chronicles 15:7 says, "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”

Rewards! That’s not something we often think about as farmers. We mainly just try to make it through another day.  However, as a Christian we can think of rewards in a totally different light. You see, a Christian can accumulate rewards while on Earth for “specific service.” The judgment seat of Christ in Heaven will weigh our works on God’s scales. Our hard work, when performed for the glory of God, is likened to gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: 12-15).

So, for now, let us work as He directs and live in the blessings promised to us in Psalm 128:1-2. All this while we await our final and best reward in Heaven: seeing our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and living in eternity with Him.

Doug Smith,
Millville, Pa.

Smith is a member of the Northeast Pennsylvania chapter of Fellowship of Christian Farmers International.