In the course of my childhood we picked rocks every spring.   For a new field needed to be freed of rocks, so planting could be done without machinery breaking down.   This chore  was detested by all of us children.   Yet, our Father delegated it to us, and it was expected!

So it is with our daily lives today! Our Father in Heaven has delegated to us the very nature of  peparing for the kingdom of heaven.  So, Even as ‘grown-ups’ we still ‘ pick rocks’!   If we do not do the  work we can not have a bouniful harvest!   Our Lord speaks of the vine yard.  He also mentions that laborors are ‘few’   Numerous times our Lord speaks of preparing for the ‘harvest’.     So much so that I could not possiably relay the importance to you, other than to say in both  the books of Mark and John Jesus is candid in the importance of preparing for the harvest.

If we take a look at Mark Chapter 4 verses 3-9 

3)”Listen carefully to this.   A farmer went out sowing.   4)Some of what he sowed landed on the footpath, where the birds came along and ate it. 5) Some of the seed landed on ‘rocky’ ground where it had little soil; it sprouted immediately because the soil had no depth. 6)Then, when the sun rose and scorched it, it began to wither for lack of roots. 7)Again, some landed among the thorns which grew up and choked it off.  8)Some seed, finally, landed on good soil and yielded grain that sprang up to produce at a rate of thirty- and sixty- and a hundred fold.” 9)Having spoken this parable, he added: “Let him who has ears to hear me, hear!”

Jesus goes on to explain to the apostles the meaning of the parable:

verses 16-20

16)”Similarly, those sown on rocky ground are people who on the listening to the word accept it joyfully at the onset.   17) Being rootless, they last only a while.   When some pressure or persecution over takes them because of the word, they falter.   18)  Those sown among the thorns are another class.   Tehy listened to the word, 19) but anxieties over life’s demands and the desire for wealth, and cravings of other sorts come to choke it off; it bears no yeild. 20) But those sown on good soil are the ones who listen to the word, take it to heart, and yield it thirty-sixty-and a hundred fold”