"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).

David tells us in this Psalm that a sower is a reaper. But he also tells us that a weeping sower will
"doubtless" be a rejoicing reaper. What an encouragement is this to patient sowing, even when
there is no apparent result.

The Lord our Saviour was a sower, and above all a weeper. As He stood on Mount Olivet and
reviewed the scene of His labors, the pent-up tears flowed as He uttered that sorrowful lament
over Jerusalem, saying, "If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which
belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." (Luke 19:42). But He still went on
sowing. In the deep love of His heart He gave His life for that rebellious nation, and His reaping
time will doubtless come when "all Israel shall be saved:as it is written, There shall come out of
Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:for this is My covenant unto
them, when I shall take away their sins." (Rom. 11:26).

Paul, too, was a weeper. His epistles tell us of the agonies he went through for perishing sinners
(Rom. 9:2) and backsliding saints (Gal. 4:19). He wept bitter tears (Phil. 3:18), but he well knew
that "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with
rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

In fact, one of the things he looked forward to in the day of the kingdom was the joy of the reaper.
He could speak of the Thessalonians as being his joy and crown of rejoicing when the Lord should
come. He urged the saints at Corinth to be "steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know," said he, "that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." a Cor.
15:58).

Are you a worker in the Lord’s vineyard_perhaps a Sunday-school teacher with a very unruly
class? Well, don’t give it up. Pray about the children; study the Word of God, to have something
to give to them, and remember the word "doubtless."

Perhaps you distribute tracts. You have left the silent messengers at houses where they have little
desire to receive them, and you cannot speak of a single conversion from all your work. Don’t
forget the "doubtless." It is written for your encouragement. About twenty years ago a gospel
book was written. It had lain on somebody’s shelf most of that time. At last it was taken to a
hospital. God used that book to save a soul!

Or do you preach in the open air when you can; go from door to door with the Word? You labor
hard to reach souls; your desires are sincere; and yet you see no fruit. Remember our word
"doubtless." A servant of Christ went out to a foreign country. His deep desire for precious souls
to be saved had led him there. He labored for many years, and before he saw any fruit the natives
took his life. Another servant went to labor on the same island. In a short time many had turned
to the Lord. Will not sower and reaper rejoice together by and by?

It may be you are neither teacher, preacher, nor evangelist. Still you feel that you must do
something to make known God’s great salvation. You live in a home where some or all are
unconverted, or you know someone at work whose soul you earnestly desire to be saved. You
have often prayed for your family, often spoken to the one you are working with, but only get
ridicule in return. You are becoming discouraged, and feel you must give up. Remember the word
"doubtless," and faith will be strengthened.

Now it does not always follow that in this world the weeping sower will be the rejoicing reaper,
but there is no doubt that the deeper our desires, and the more earnest our efforts for the blessing
of others, the greater will be our joy in that glorious day when both sower and reaper will rejoice
together.

People sometimes say that a Paul may plant and Apollos water, but it is useless if God does not
give the increase. True, but the Scripture says Paul planted, Apollos watered, and "God gave the
increase." He did not withhold it. Now sowing is hard work, needing much patient care. Then do
not let us be disheartened. May the compassion of God and the deep need of lost souls so fill our
hearts that, like Jeremiah of old, we may weep in secret for them, and seek in public to reach
them. May we so catch our Master’s spirit that we may indeed become sowers. This we can all
be in our measure. We are to cast our bread upon the waters; after many days it shall be found.

If anyone is tempted to give up some service for Christ, no matter how insignificant in the eyes
of men, don’t do so. Read and pray over Psalm 126 and I Cor. 15:58 until the word "doubtless,"
and "your labor is not in vain," stir you to more unceasing effort. If you are growing weary, read
Galatians 6:9:"Let us not be weary in well doing:for in due season we shall reap, if we faint
not." So we must not give up, but labor on in dependence upon our Master in heaven. The result
is sure, and we shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us.