What we can learn about the fruitful Christian life from our drip line, part 2: the results of our work only become apparent over time.

Another parallel between our drip line and a fruitful life in Christ is that results of its work only become apparent over time. We start setting up our drip line in April, and start irrigating through it in May, but most of the harvests it makes possible don’t happen until July and August.  Millions of little drips must occur before the blessings we are working towards occur. 

Scripture reflects that dynamic. It is implicit in Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed, recounted at Matthew 13:31 -32.  It takes time for that tiny seed to grow into the fount of blessing it will become. That pattern is stated more clearly in His parable of the seed growing by itself, reported at Mark 4:27-29. It must grow “night and day, while [the farmer] sleeps and when he is awake . . . first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain[.]” Mark 4:27, 28 (New Jerusalem Bible, emphasis added). Proverbs 13:11 puts it most clearly: “accumulation little by little is the way to riches.” (New Jerusalem Bible). 

So what do we do with that, how do we apply it to our lives? We keep doing the work God called us to, day by day, trusting that He will make it fruitful over time. Just trust in the Lord, do the good you can, and keep doing it.