As Christians, we each have a specific role in the Kingdom of God. Sometimes, it is frustrating as we serve because we are so results-oriented. We expect success, and we want the satisfaction of knowing the impact we have had.

Jesus uses examples of fishermen and farmers to remind us that there is only so much we can do. Serving in the Kingdom requires our participation, but that alone does not guarantee success or that we will ever see the fruits of our efforts.

A fisherman must make sure his net is whole, get into his boat, go to where he believes the fish are, and cast out his net. He then must pull the net in to retrieve the catch. Skipping any of these steps guarantees failure. However, doing them all does not guarantee success. He cannot force fish to swim into the net.

Likewise, a farmer must clear the weeds, till the soil, plant the seeds, and protect the crop the best that he can until it’s time to harvest. He cannot make the seeds sprout, nor can he summon the sun and rain to help them grow. While clearing, planting, and tending are required for successful farming, they do not guarantee a healthy harvest.

In the end, it is God who will bring in the catch and gather the harvest. Our job is to cast and to sow.