Harvest Is A Time Of Thanksgiving And Reflecting On God’s Provision. Series

Harvest is a time of thanksgiving and reflecting on God’s provision.

Today, we’re talking about harvest. And I don’t know about you, but the word "harvest" brings to mind images of golden fields, ripe fruit, and, let’s be honest, lots of food! Who doesn’t love a good meal? But harvest is more than just food, it’s a time of thanksgiving and reflecting on God’s provision.

Now, before we dive deeper, did you know that harvest traditions around the world can be a little...unusual? Let me share a few with you. In Japan, there’s a festival called “Oeshiki” where, to celebrate the rice harvest, people walk through the streets with massive lanterns, spinning them like helicopter blades! Meanwhile, in some parts of Spain, they celebrate the grape harvest by jumping into vats of grapes and stomping them barefoot. It’s a bit like making wine, but also kind of like extreme squishing!

And how about this one? In Switzerland, there’s a tradition where children dress up in leaves and branches, parade through the town, and then… the villagers chase them with cowbells! I’m not sure what that has to do with harvest, but there you go. So, next time you think of harvest, picture a bunch of leafy kids running from loud cowbells.

But while harvest traditions vary around the world, they all have something in common: thanksgiving. Whether it’s rice, grapes, or wheat, harvest time is when we pause to give thanks for what the land has produced.

Now, let's get a little more serious—why does this matter to us as Christians? You see, throughout the Bible, harvest is mentioned over and over again, but it’s not just about food. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus says, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Jesus wasn’t talking about grain or fruit here—He was talking about people. Jesus sees the world as a harvest field, and He’s calling us to be workers in it. There are people who are ready to hear the Good News, people who need to experience God’s love, and we’re the ones He’s calling to bring them in.

Let’s take a moment to look at how a harvest actually works. The farmer doesn’t just sit at home and hope the crops gather themselves into baskets. There’s work involved—tilling, planting, watering, and finally, the actual gathering. In the same way, Jesus has prepared hearts, but He’s asking us to do the gathering.

Here’s a personal story. A few years ago, I tried my hand at gardening. I planted some tomatoes—seemed simple enough. Water the plants, give them sunlight, and boom, tomatoes, right? Wrong. I didn’t realise how much attention those little plants needed. Too much water, they’re done for; too little, they’re crispy. I got so involved with work that I forgot to tend to them regularly, and at the end of the season, instead of a great harvest, I had about three wrinkly tomatoes and a pile of dried-out stalks.

There’s a lesson there: if we don’t tend to what God is growing, we won’t see the harvest He’s planned.

In the Old Testament, during the time of harvest, the Israelites were commanded to leave the edges of their fields unharvested so that the poor and foreigners could gather food. It’s a reminder that our harvests are not just for us—they are for sharing. Whether it’s material blessings or the spiritual harvest of sharing Jesus with others, we are called to give generously from what God has given to us.

Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking, “But I’m not a preacher. How am I supposed to be a worker in the harvest field?” Well, let me tell you, it doesn’t always look like standing on a stage or preaching. Being a worker in the harvest could mean showing kindness to a co-worker, being a listening ear to a friend, or simply offering to pray for someone. Small acts of love are like seeds that God can use to bring a great harvest in someone’s life.

Here’s a joke to lighten things up a bit: Why did the farmer win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!

But seriously, sometimes we think that sharing our faith has to be grand or complicated. It doesn’t. God is the one who makes things grow—we’re just called to plant the seeds and gather the harvest when the time comes.

You know, as I was preparing this message, I found something fascinating. In parts of Ghana, when they celebrate the Yam Festival, they bring the very first yams harvested to the chief. Only after the chief has tasted the first yam can the people eat. It struck me—what if we approached our spiritual harvest the same way? What if we brought the very best of what we’ve gathered to Jesus first? Our prayers, our time, our hearts? When we honour Him with our best, we’re trusting that He will provide for all that we need.