So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. Ruth 1:22 (4-8-11)

It’s very important to know what season you’re in.

For Ruth, God’s timing brought them back to Israel at the start of the barley harvest. That meant there was gleaning to be done through the entire barley harvest, and then the wheat harvest after that. Which meant there was food, enough food that if she worked hard, there would be enough to put away for winter.

Of course, God had more in mind than just providing for the winter. He brought her to the fields of Boaz and the rest is, of course, history.

But even those fortuitous events were dependent on Ruth taking advantage of the season. If she’d decided to take off the first few days of barley harvest to rest, she may have missed the opportunity. If she hadn’t worked hard she wouldn’t have caught the eye of the one who became her savior. And she wouldn’t have been the multi-great-grandmother of the one who is our Savior.

So we need to recognize the season, and when we recognize it is harvest season we must work hard. First because it is good stewardship and second because God may want to take our efforts and bring about something that dwarfs them. Something God-sized.

And that’s what I’m praying for.

[Father, help us to do our best to reach people, and I pray You would multiply our efforts for Your glory. And I pray you’d help me to recognize the other seasons we encounter and not be discouraged because every season isn’t harvest season.]