Plowing – Sow To Grow Part Three
Mark compares plowing to the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life.
Plowing Is Not a Popular Job
In the the Old Testament book of Hosea we read:
..break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord… You have plowed wickedness…
Hosea 10:12-13
Being called a “plowboy” is not a compliment. Plowing is not usually a job someone wants to take on. Having grown up on a farm myself, I know the challenges and arduous work that comes with tilling a field and doing it right.
Fallow Ground
Fallow ground is a plot of land that has been either untouched or left dormant. It has been unkept, and left alone for nature to have its way. Weeds and grasses grow at will.
God rebuked the people in Hosea’s day telling them to “break up their fallow ground.” The people of Israel neglected their relationship with the Lord, they had rejected Him and sought out things of the world to replace Him. Their lives were overgrown with weeds of sin and idolatry, and they had become unproductive. They allowed their sinful nature to have its way.
The Believer and Fallow Ground
As believers today we also need to be on guard to not allow sin and disobedience to God go untended. We have received new life in Christ, we need to evaluate what fallow ground in our lives needs to be broken and given over to the Lord for His use. Our Saviour does not want a part of us, He wants all.
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4:22-24
Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.
Jeremiah 4:3
Cultivating soil is necessary for renewal and to help with weed control. Why would a farmer not plow his fields before seeding them?
Proverbs 20:4 says,
Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
Proverbs 20:4
Growth Without Effort?
Laziness and neglect do not produce a harvest so why do we expect growth without effort? With the Lord’s help we can look hard at our sin and see what aspects of our lives are lying dormant. It’s hard painstaking work to use the plow of conviction and self-denial, but the result will be refreshing, enabling us in fruitful service for Him.
Jesus said,
No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9:62
We typically view plowing as it has been done prior to our modern age of machinery, don’t we? We envision a pioneer plow with a single or pair of beasts pulling; a man behind directing as the single furrow aggressively cuts into the soil. This was hard work.
Straight Furrows
An experienced plowman has straight furrows, and when you get out into a large open field, this is more of a challenge than you think. To make straight furrows you must fix your eyes on an object ahead of you in the distance and aim your plow towards it; you can’t align your work to the furrow beside you, and you can’t be looking back to see how well you are doing, you must be occupied with what lies ahead.
The Lord Jesus made this parallel with the kingdom of God; you can’t become a citizen, be distracted and play an effective part. You must be all in, focused on Him, sold out, knowing that everything else is of little importance in comparison.
You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Deuteronomy 5:32
Life is full of distractions, there are many things tempting us to take our focus off the One on whom we must depend. The fact is plain and simple, if we lose our focus we will swerve to the left or the right, developing a crooked furrow, that is a guarantee.
Fixing Our Eyes
In Hebrews we read,
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart…
Hebrews 12:2,3
In the Old Testament book of Isaiah we see,
Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
Isaiah 45:22
The Holy Spirit and Plowing
Since the fallow ground God is referring to is the areas in our life that require renewal, what is the plow to carry out this task? It is the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit is the plowman, may we allow them to have their way with our untouched convictions and our sinful tendencies. With liberty they will drive the blade deep, upheaving the weeds of sin with furrows long and straight, not allowing for one square inch to go untouched.
Our love for the Lord and knowing what He has done for us, should give us the ambition to strive for better. Meditation in His Word and being real with Him in prayer; confessing sin, is the best way to help get the plow deep.
Our Fallow Ground
Who owns our fallow ground? If we claim our lives as our own, it will not work out; we must let the plowman who owns it do as He wishes.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
Hebrews 4:12,13
The Lord Jesus Christ gave His life for us, so we may have new life in Him. He took the judgment against our sin, bearing it on the cross. Humanity took their aggression out on Him. Unknowingly they were wounding Him for their transgressions. The Old Testament prophetically speaks of the whipping He received prior to His crucifixion:
I gave my back to those who strike…
Isaiah 50:6
My back is covered with cuts, as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
Psalm 129:3
The Sinless Christ
Jesus Christ was sinless. There was nothing fallow in Him, yet He bore the sinfulness of the entire world and took the pain and death so we wouldn’t have to. His work on the cross was not something we could do ourselves, but His resurrection is life we can share with Him.
Is your life “fallow ground?” We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Mark compares plowing to the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian’s life.
Enjoy Part One of this series here.
Mark Hillis
Mark lives rural in Fenwick, Ontario with his wife Michelle and three boys.
He joined the FBH International team in February 2022, coming from the business world with a design and art background.
Mark is particularly interested in seeing people come to Christ and grow in their faith. He recently produced the series entitled: Sow to Grow.
Mark serves as an elder at Brockview Bible Chapel in St.Catharines , Ontario.
Visit Mark’s contributor’s page here.
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Images Courtesy of:
Plowing Buffalo – sarangi
Tractor – PublicDomainImages
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