Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

BRINGING IN THE CHEESE?

An old, favorite hymn in older song books is “Bringing in the Sheaves.”

Children often hear this as “Bringing in the Cheese,” and wonder what it is all about. Indeed, the polling of a modern congregation of adults revealed that they also did not understand the meaning of the world “sheaf” the singular of “sheaves.”

In Biblical times, grains such as wheat, barley, oats, etc.were harvested by hand. The grain stalks were severed close to the ground with a sickle or scythe. An arm load of the severed stalks were then tied into a bundle: a sheaf to be transported to a threshing floor where the edible grain was removed, and the residual chaff and straw separated for other purposes. So, bringing in the sheaves spoke of an abundant harvest. It was a time of rejoicing for the blessing of an overflowing food supply for families, animals, and for substance of trade for other needed things.

In the spiritual world, a sinner saved is a harvest of eternal joy. Snatched from the flames of hell, he is both a part of a harvested sheaf as well as a new harvester of yet others who make up sheaves for the master, and rejoicing for all. In the Day of the Lord, many of God’s people will be joyously surprised to learn how their dedication to Christ Jesus has influenced others, even sheaves of others. Likewise, there will be tears of sorrow shed over wasted lives with no sheaves for the Master; perhaps not even a single sheaf.

Truly, the cheese in the child’s understanding may bring smiles to the flesh, but sheaves will bring eternal joy in the presence of the Lord. How then shall an assurance of sheaves be anticipated? As with any other harvest of good things, seeds must be sown and watered. The seed is the Word of God, and the water is human tears of love and compassion. The Psalmist wrote: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” Psalm 126:5-6.

Hear then the Lord Jesus as He says to His disciples, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35. Let the cheese have its place, to nourish the body, but let all of God’s people be concerned with the welfare of never-dying spirits of men. Let us work to bring in the sheaves for the glory of God.

FOR THOUGHT: With the love that a lot of church folks have for potluck, one might wonder if the cheese is not more important to them than the sheaves. On the other hand do you think that often people try to force a harvest of sheaves when they might be better off sticking to the cheese? In other words, isn’t it true that God alone must be the force in individual hearts to produce heaven bound sheaves? Are you one shock of good wheat in God’s sheaves?