The Sovereign Creator of the Universe has blessed my family with an organic garden that produces a good bit of the food we eat.  As one who eats a vegan diet, I genuinely rejoice in eating the fresh, organic, produce of our garden.  Nothing bought in a store can compare to the taste of homegrown tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, cabbage, or peas.  Our berries are also quite remarkable. Over the years, my wife and I have learned how to reduce much of the labor of the garden.  We have reduced the size of the beds, put heavy mulch around the plants to keep the soil moist and the weeds down, we never walk on the beds so there is little need for tilling, cultivating, or weeding.  The biggest, and according to our children, the most boring, job in the garden is watering the garden.  Standing in the garden for an hour with a hose in one’s hand saturating the ground around the plants, while being eaten alive by mosquitoes is not a favorite chore for anyone.  But it is necessary. Without water there is no life and no fruit.  We have all learned to give thanks for extended rainy days which thoroughly soak the ground making it unnecessary to water for a couple of days.  Without question sufficient water makes the greatest difference when it comes time to harvest.

Our Master, Yeshua the Messiah, blessed be he, often taught his talmidim (disciples) in agricultural terms.  Most notable is the parable of the Sower.

A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. ⁶ And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. ⁸ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Luke 8:5-8 KJV)

In his explanation of this parable our Master gave us the key that unlocks much of his teaching: The seed is the word of God!

Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. ¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ¹⁶  No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. ¹⁸ Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:11-18 KJV)

It is interesting to note that our Master taught that the seed that fell upon rocky soil withered away because of a lack of moisture.  In the Psalm 126:5-6, we are told that those who sow with tears shall harvest with joy! 

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. ⁶ He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6 KJV)

Let us note the subtle connection between tears (moisture) and the harvest.

For those among the brethren that have been called to be sowers of God’s word, this is a critical lesson that we need to learn.  As sowers, teachers, preachers, and evangelists, Yeshua is not  teaching that we are to go out and indiscriminately throw the word of God around as if it is a worthless commodity.  In the parable of the Sower, our Master is NOT teaching us to go out and just shout his word to everyone and anyone without preparing the ground.  Seed is precious.  Survival depends upon the seed and its harvest.  If the seed became damaged or was destroyed, there would be no sowing.  Without sowing, there is no harvesting.  Without harvesting there is no food.  Without food there is no life. This is true in the agricultural realm and the spiritual realm. Our Master is not telling us to be indiscriminate with our “sowing” or our teaching.  It is, inevitable, that some seed/word will blow in the wind and land where we did not intentionally plant it.  Not everyone will receive our teaching.  However, this does not mean that we should not go out and prepare the beds.  We should do everything in our power to bring forth a great harvest from our vineyards, gardens and fields.  As sowers of the word, we should likewise be doing everything in our power to bring forth an abundant harvest for the kingdom.  This would include removing the weeds of worry and worldliness, chasing away the false teachers who seek to replace the pure seed with their own, removing the stumbling blocks of sin from our own lives, preparing and cultivating the fallow soil of the hearts of those we seek to teach, and above all watering the seeds that we have planted with the tears of our prayers.

Many teachers, preachers, evangelists and sowers of the word of God, labor over their teaching or message, to make sure that the seed is “pure seed” and not mingled with weeds.  But once their message is delivered, they errantly think their job is finished.  But this is not what the scripture teaches.  These sowers must now water the planted seed with the tears of their prayers.  Without water the seed withers.  There are numerous examples in the scriptures of our Master praying for those he delivered the word to.  In some cases Yeshua prayed in preparation of planting.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. ³⁶ And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. ³⁷ And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. ³⁸ And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. (Mark 1:35-38 KJV)

In other instances he prayed after the planting.

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. ⁸ For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. ⁹ I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. (John 17:6-9 KJV)

 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ¹⁸ As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. ²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; (John 17:14-20 KJV)

We may also recall how our Master just prior to his crucifixion watered the garden of Jerusalem with his tears.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41 KJV)

Let us take careful note that after Yeshua’s death and resurrection, there was an abundant harvest gathered in Jerusalem with great joy and rejoicing.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41 KJV)

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the YHWH added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47 KJV)

And believers were the more added to YHWH, multitudes both of men and women. (Acts 5:14 KJV)

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:4 KJV)

And when they heard it, they glorified YHWH, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the Torah: (Acts 21:20 KJV)

As teachers, preachers, pastors, evangelists, and sowers, we must understand that our work is not finished when we are done speaking or planting.  We must also water the fields and gardens that we have planted with the tears of our prayers that the seed will bear an abundant harvest for the kingdom.