Abundantly Fruitful 

God on Monday
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“But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

Reflection

At times I find it hard to apply the words of Jesus to my work. Perhaps you do too. We may be committed to living out God’s good news, but our work can feel like stony ground, resistant to our seed-sowing efforts.

Jesus’ parable of the sower reminds us how important ‘good soil’ is. By embodying the gospel every day, we tend the soil around us, helping to make it fertile. We thereby play our part in the amazing transformation that can happen when people experience something of God's love for them through our ordinary everyday lives. 

The verse cited above is a celebration of that good soil. It has been tended, weeded, and patiently looked after, and it offers a healthy environment for seeds to grow and be fruitful. We can rejoice, and we are inspired in our efforts, as the good soil yields crops of thirty, sixty and hundred times what was sown.

Recently at Five Talents, we have been celebrating the fruitfulness of our work in central and eastern Africa. A report charting the impacts of our 20-year-long partnership with the Mothers’ Union in Burundi has highlighted amazing transformation: more women learning to read, write and start small businesses; more girls going to school; more employment opportunities; and participants with a greater sense of their own value, their value to each other and to God.

This has been no quick fix but sustained and tangible growth. Through the patience, resilience, hard work and prayers of many women, men, communities and partners there has been evidence of much good soil. We are thankful for the abundant yields it has delivered.

May this final verse of Jesus’ parable encourage us to be good ‘gardeners’ at work; embodying the Good News, and in doing so helping others to hear it and understand it.

Response

Be encouraged to see yourself as a co-creator of your work environment, tending the soil around you so that it becomes ever more fruitful.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for our work. Strengthen and encourage us as we seek to live out your transformative message of love and hope.

Next Steps

This Week's Author

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.  

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