We are continuing in Ecclesiastes 3, There is a season for everything and a time for every purpose under Heaven. We are finishing up verse 2, "…and a time to pluck up that which is planted;”.  King James uses the word pluck, but we can also use words like, to reap, harvest, etc. Again, throughout the Bible we will see references of these words used in multiple situations. Before we look at scriptures, a thought came to me as I was preparing my notes. A farmer will not harvest the field they planted until it is the exact right time to do so. The window is small for that also. If it is too early the harvest will not be ready, if it is too late the harvest will spoil. As we read the times God has appointed here in Ecclesiastes, we will need to stay in tune with God to know when the exact right time is for our harvest whatever it may be. As we go along today we will be refencing back multiple times to also planting/sowing as we studied last week and also seeing some of the same verses as it is pretty difficult to talk about harvesting without the planting part.

 We can most view that when using the term pluck/ harvest /reap/etc, the Bible does refer to crops starting back into Genesis. God does give exact instructions to harvesting.

Genesis 8:22   "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

Leviticus 25:5  That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.

Those are just a few verses, but there are so many just like them.

These next few verses I want to include. They do not give any specific time for harvest, but they clearly talk about reaping and harvesting ungodly things. Sin. Because we seeded ungodly things, we take ourselves out of God’s time and are now subject to when the result of sin wants to come and rear its head in our life. The timing will almost always be the worst because it is not God’s timing. But when we plant ourselves in God’s garden, we will be able to reap those benefits in God’s appointed time.

Job 4:8  Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

1 Corinthians 9:11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

Galatians 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap

2 Corinthians 9:6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

 These next couple verses, Jesus was talking to His disciples about the multitude of people that had scattered and had no "shephard”. He had compassion for them. The Harvest was ready, the time was right. He needed harvesters to gather the people and lead them.

Matthew 9:37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Matthew 9:38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

  Those last couple verses are so important. We are the harvesters for God’s people. It is our Job to pluck the people and lead them to Christ. Every time we come across someone who does not believe it is our job to plant the seed of Christ, then be ready to harvest/lead/help them when they are ready. We are God’s gardeners for His word to be sown among all the people and to then harvest and gather them when ready. If you have ever really shared the gospel with anyone, you know timing is critical. Sometimes you have to wait for them to be receptive or the seed will not take root. We can reference back to the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. You will never have a harvest to reap if you do not sow your seed correctly and at the right time.

 We can conclude that in every aspect of our lives we will have a time to harvest the things we planted. Sometimes the timing is instant and sometimes the timing can take years. The harvest could be good or bad depending on what we sowed. We will both have harvest time in the flesh and the spirit. If we want to reap the benefits of what God has for us, we must be planted on things of God.

Galatians 6:8   For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 That verse sums it up pretty easily. We cannot reap any spiritual things if we have not sown into it. So here comes the biggest question that goes back to the topic. How do we know when it is time to reap certain things in our lives. The easiest answer is by spending time with God. When we read the beginning of Ecclesiastes, it says there is a season for everything and a time for every purpose under heaven. Many times, we will be waiting for the right season. God will lead us. God will direct us.

Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

To finish up we are going to venture into God’s time where we will be the harvest. Here Jesus is explaining the parable of the tares of what God’s kingdom will be like.

Matthew 13:  (37) He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; (38) the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; (39) the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. (40) As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (41) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; (42) and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (43) Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

That is pretty powerful stuff there. If you want to read more about us being God’s harvest, read  Revelation 14. Here is a couple verses.

Revelation 14:15  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

Revelation 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

God has an appointed time for us to harvest, reap, pluck. We must spend as much time in God’s company to know when the season is for us to harvest. We must know God’s will to be able to do this.

Psalm 25:4  Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.

Proverbs 4:11  I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.