Separating the Wheat from the Tare: Businesses Response to the Wind of Change

I read this parable recently:

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 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 13:24-30 King James Version (KJV)

I grew up in a farming community. My family did and still owns farmland on which many crops are grown, harvested and sold. I have seen farmers who irrigate their crops; I have seen farmers who do not. I have seen farmers fumigate their crops for weeds (tares); I have seen farmers who do not. At the end of the day, whether the tares grow up with the crops or not, the harvest, and profit, still takes place.

The irony is that for those farmers who choose not to fumigate their crops but to let the tares grow up with the crop, a higher return is received because of the lack of chemicals in their harvest. Is it possible that the tares of society are now being exposed? Is it possible that the grains of justice are too finally ready for harvest? Is it also possible because we as the grain, the sustenance, have had to grow up with the tares of society, we are stronger, and have greater value?

As important in farming is not only the harvest, but the seed that is produced along with the harvest that may be planted for the next season. Are you doing what is necessary for not only you and your business to prosper now, but to invest in OTHERS so that the “harvest” for the next generation and generations to come may also grow, prosper, is reaped, and then they also may pay it forward? In the farming community, if you do not make this investment, take this vital next step, you no longer have harvests to come, and your personal legacy, and that of your family, ends.

How then will you as an individual, and your business, as the grain, react now as the harvest may be at hand? Will you be a good farmer and separate the wheat from the tare? More importantly, will you re-invest part of your return from your harvest so that you may benefit not only from this season, but for other seasons in your life, and your business, for generations to come?