Growing Wheat

“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” Matthew 13:30).

— Ken Allison

The wisdom found in God’s creation often mirrors the profound truths of our spiritual development in Christ Jesus. As believers, our journey reflects patterns seen in nature, offering insight into the seasons of growth, the necessity of careful cultivation, and the promise of spiritual maturity. The Preacher rightly declared, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Our walk with the Lord unfolds through such seasons, each presenting unique challenges, requiring specific nurturing, and holding opportunities for transformation according to God’s design. This journey is not one of passivity but a dynamic process demanding diligence, faith, and readiness for the work God intends to accomplish within us.

Consider the life cycle of wheat. Sown in the spring, it requires consistent nurturing conditions — sunlight, water, and fertile soil — to mature over several months before being ready for harvesting. This natural progression provides a fitting analogy for spiritual growth, particularly during the formative years of adolescence. At this stage, young brethren are much like the tender shoots of wheat: full of God-given potential, yet vulnerable to the world’s harsh elements and the Adversary’s wiles. Just as a faithful farmer diligently tends his crop, so must mentors and elder brethren embrace their responsibility to cultivate this precious wheat of faith within our young people, providing the spiritual nourishment necessary for them to flourish unto righteousness.

The Wheat of Faith

Spiritual development is at the heart of the Christian life, and it demands particular attention during adolescence — a season marked by rapid change, questioning, and profound potential for either godly growth or worldly conformity. Our adolescent brethren stand at a critical juncture, akin to young wheat needing careful tending to withstand the threats of drought, pests, or choking weeds.

The growth cycle of wheat offers a tangible picture. Planted in faith, nurtured through the warmth of fellowship and the light of God’s Word, spiritual roots deepen, character strengthens like a sturdy stalk, and the potential for a godly harvest emerges. Yet, this growth is not automatic. As wheat needs specific conditions, our young brethren require consistent exposure to scripture, the life-giving water of prayer, fertile ground within a supportive ecclesia, and practical opportunities to exercise their faith.

Our Lord’s parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-30) illuminates this reality. The wheat represents the children of the kingdom, while the tares symbolize those aligned with the wicked one. Though they grow together, their ultimate destiny differs significantly. This parable underscores the need for diligent spiritual cultivation amidst worldly influences — peer pressure, doubt, ungodly philosophies — that seek to choke the burgeoning faith of our youth. The wisdom of Proverbs adds a note of urgency: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Early, consistent instruction in righteousness serves as a vital safeguard, helping young believers remain anchored in truth as they navigate the complexities of adolescence and mature into adulthood.

Mentors and elder brethren bear a weighty responsibility that extends beyond mere teaching. They are called to model Christ-like character — humility, godly love, perseverance, and faithfulness — offering a living testimony for young eyes to observe and emulate.

As wheat must be protected from encroaching weeds, young brethren need guidance to overcome challenges like fear, insecurity, and especially moral compromise. Fear of failure, rejection, or inadequacy can stunt spiritual growth as surely as a drought withers a promising crop. Yet, scripture provides the countermeasure: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Godly love, applied with wisdom and discipline, becomes a powerful instrument to root out fear, fostering an environment where young faith can genuinely thrive.

Our objective is to guide these precious adolescents from small beginnings toward becoming strong stalks capable of bearing the “healthy grains” of mature Christian character — faith, integrity, service, and a deep love for God and His truth. This transformation mirrors the wheat’s progression: roots grasping deeply into the fertile soil of God’s Word, stalks strengthening through the care of mentorship and fellowship, and grains ripening for a harvest that brings glory to God. Let us consider scriptural examples where carefully nurtured adolescent faith yielded such a lasting harvest.

Biblical Examples of Faith Forged in Youth

The scriptures provide inspiring accounts of young individuals whose adolescent years, under godly influence, prepared them for extraordinary service in God’s plan. Their lives demonstrate the unknown potential in the “wheat of faith” when it is diligently cultivated.

David: Courage Born of Trust

The account of David in 1 Samuel offers an inspirational example of adolescent faith in action. As a young shepherd, likely still in his teens, David confronted Goliath, a champion who struck fear into the hearts of Israel’s armies (1 Samuel 17). His courageous victory was not rooted in youthful arrogance but in a faith nurtured through his solitary duties — tending sheep, defending them from predators, and communing with God through prayer and song. David’s confidence, expressed to King Saul, reveals a spiritual maturity cultivated through reliance on God: “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

Godly mentorship impacted David from a young age. The prophet Samuel anointed David years earlier, marking him for God’s purpose (1 Samuel 16:13). His responsibilities honed his dependence on divine strength. Facing Goliath, David wielded more than a sling; he wielded a tested and proven trust in Jehovah to deliver, learned from his days in the pastures. His adolescent courage foreshadowed his reign as Israel’s king, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). For our young brethren today, David exemplifies how trust in God, fostered early and encouraged by mentors, equips them to face their own giants — be they fear, temptation, or adversity.

Timothy: Faith Shaped by Mentorship

Timothy stands as another model of youthful potential molded by godly mentorship. Likely in his late teens or early twenties when he joined the Apostle Paul’s ministry (Acts 16:1-3), Timothy possessed a faith inherited from his devout grandmother Lois and mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Paul’s dedicated guidance added to this foundation. Paul’s charge to him reflects both Timothy’s youth and his leadership potential: “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV).

Timothy faced challenges, including a tendency towards timidity (2 Timothy 1:7) and the pressures of leadership within the early ecclesia. Paul’s letters served as vital encouragement and instruction. Like wheat drawing nourishment from fertile soil, Timothy grew through immersion in scripture, practical ministry experience, and Paul’s example of unwavering faithfulness amidst suffering. His adolescent years were a crucial season of preparation, yielding a harvest of steadfast leadership. For young brethren today, Timothy’s life demonstrates how godly heritage, and godly mentorship can transform youthful potential into enduring spiritual impact.

Samuel: Attuned to God’s Voice in Youth

The story of Samuel (1 Samuel 1-3) provides another perspective on adolescent faith. Dedicated to God’s service from birth by his mother Hannah, Samuel grew up ministering under the priest Eli in the tabernacle. While still a youth — perhaps around 12 years old — he heard the LORD personally calling him (1 Samuel 3:4-10), marking the beginning of his ministry. Despite the spiritual failings of Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2:12-17), Samuel’s openness to God and faithfulness in service cultivated a relationship that would guide Israel through pivotal times.

Samuel’s response to God’s call was, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). It reflects a heart already conditioned to listen and obey, nurtured through his duties and communion with God. His spiritual growth, amidst a corrupt environment, highlights the power of personal obedience. For today’s young brethren, Samuel illustrates how a receptive spirit, even within imperfect surroundings, can lead to a life of profound purpose and influence for God’s kingdom.

Nurturing Young Brethren Today: Practical Steps

These biblical examples — David’s courage, Timothy’s faithfulness under guidance, and Samuel’s responsiveness to God — underscore adolescence as a vital season of life for sowing and tending the seeds of faith. from their examples and the principles of scripture, mentors, parents, and elder brethren can effectively nurture adolescents entrusted to their care with these guiding principles:

(1) Immerse them in God’s Word. The Bible is the “fertile soil” essential for deep roots. Consistent study, heartfelt discussion, and practical application — much like David’s meditation reflected in the Psalms or Timothy’s learning from Paul — are indispensable.

(2) Uphold them in Prayer. Prayer is the spiritual “watering” that sustains growth. Just as Samuel communed with God in the Tabernacle, consistent prayer fosters intimacy with God, Christ, and reliance on the holy Spirit’s guidance for our young people.

(3) Provide Opportunities for Faith in Action. Faith grows when exercising, like wheat reaching for sunlight. Encourage participation in service, guide them in making moral decisions based on biblical principles, and help them stand against peer pressure. These “battles,” like David’s, build spiritual resilience and character.

(4) Address Hindrances with Love and Discipline. Threats like fear or doubt must be addressed.
2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that God does not give us the spirit of fear but provides the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. This love is expressed through patient instruction, affirmation, godly discipline, and consistent encouragement.

(5) Foster a Supportive Community. The family, the ecclesia, and godly peers act as a protective “fence,” helping shield adolescent brethren from worldly “tares” while cultivating spiritual strength and fellowship.

(6) Model Godly Living. Personal examples speak volumes to the youth. As Paul modeled perseverance and holiness for Timothy, our consistent Christ-like conduct provides a living pattern for young brethren to follow.

The Anticipated Harvest: Spiritual Maturity

The growth cycle of wheat — from sowing to reaping — beautifully parallels the spiritual journey. Seeds of faith, planted early and diligently nurtured, can yield a harvest of mature Christian character: a life marked by service, witness, integrity, and love for God and His people. These “healthy grains” bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

Mentors and elder brethren labor in faith, anticipating this transformation. Like the patient farmer, their efforts, undertaken in dependence on God, will bear fruit in His perfect timing. As Paul encouraged, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

David, Timothy, and Samuel each produced a significant harvest because their youthful faith was nurtured. David led a nation, Timothy shepherded the flock, and Samuel guided Israel as prophet and judge. Today’s adolescent brethren possess the same potential to become strong and mature Christians, capable of bearing abundant fruit for God’s Kingdom — aided by those who faithfully invest in their spiritual development.

Conclusion: Tending the Field Until the Harvest

Adolescence in Christ is revealed not merely as a transitional phase of development but as a sacred season designed by God for intentional spiritual growth. It is a time akin to spring wheat cultivation, demanding care, patience, and faithfulness from those entrusted with nurturing the young. The analogy of the wheat field challenges us to view our adolescent brethren as tender shoots holding abundant God-given potential, requiring our dedicated effort to guide them toward maturity in Christ and away from the temptations of the Adversary.

Through the timeless wisdom of scripture, the inspiring examples of young biblical figures, and the practical application of godly principles, we are equipped for this vital task of mentoring our adolescents under our influence. Let us commit to countering fear with faith-filled love, grounding our youth in the unchanging truth of God’s Word, and preparing them for a harvest of righteousness. As the Preacher reminds us, there is a time for every purpose under heaven. In this season of their lives, our purpose is clear: to faithfully tend the precious wheat of faith until it stands tall and fruitful, ready to glorify God and bless His people until the end of the harvest.