Lay It on Me

40 / L AY I T ON M E

head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (MARK 4:28, 29). This passage of scripture explains the principle of increase from 30-fold to 100-fold. It shows that once the seed is planted in the ground and the weather conditions are correct, the seed begins a threefold process:  First, the blade  Then, the head, the ear or stalk  Then, the full grain, the corn or mature fruit The blade represents the 30-fold level; the stalk represents the 60-fold level and the mature fruit represents the 100-fold level. Once the seed reaches maturity and becomes a ripe ear, then it can be picked from the stalk and eaten. Or, the ear can be used as seed for the future harvest. One ear of corn can produce dozens of plants that can, in turn, produce hundreds of ears. People can eat their seed or they can replenish it by a continual planting process. People who never tithe or give are always eating their seed. They never plant any seed into their future. Since the story of Ruth shows the miracle of increase, the three stages of growing can be observed in Ruth's life. Applying this pattern to Ruth, we see her beginning in the corner of the field as the blade. Her "handfuls of purpose" was the stalk. But when Boaz "laid it on her", she had matured into the fruit (Ruth 3:15).