The Lord gave me this thought the other day. Have you ever thought of yourself as “fertilizer”? Think about the purpose of fertilizer. It aids and encourages plants to produce abundantly. While it does not replace our own responsibility to bear fruit, I think we should consider becoming fertilizer to other so that they can bear fruit as well – both at home and abroad. We should encourage our friends to be a witness for Christ and to join us in bearing fruit. Help keep each other accountable in always moving forward and bearing fruits – both for salvation and the fruits of the Spirit.
How about missionaries? If you don’t feel the Lord has called you to bear fruit in the foreign field, would you consider being their “fertilizer”? Obviously, we can pray for them, and perhaps support them financially. But how about letting them know you’re praying? How about writing a note – or with technology advancing as it is – sending an email or a message on Facebook to a missionary or missionary’s wife to encourage them? Ask them for specific requests, things they are struggling with, become their friend. Let them know you’re on their side. “Fertilize” their efforts for the Lord. The mission field can be a lonely place, particularly in the beginning when you barely know how to communicate. I think I heard somewhere that over 50% of missionaries never return for a second term. Maybe if we "fertilized" them a little better, their roots would grow stronger with the Lord's help.
"For we are labourers together with God..." 1 Corinthians 3:9
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