The Christian life has a built in tension between urgency and patience.  Paul’s advice to singles illustrates the urgency perspective.  He advised the Church at Corinth that staying single would allow one to bear more fruit for the Kingdom of God in the short term. This was necessary due to an anticipation of the Lord’s soon return.

But then again, the Bible’s thousand years to a day comparison communicates soon for God may not jive with soon from the human perspective. Paul’s advice to the Church at Galatia illustrates the patience perspective.  Paul exhorted the Church at Galatia to not grow weary in well doing.  He told them that they would reap the fruit of their labors in due season, if they did not lose heart. (Gal. 6:9) The Lord’s half brother spoke to the issue of patience when he wrote,

Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the  

   Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious

   fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it

   receives the early and latter rain.  (James 5:7 NKJ)

If you are not seeing the fruit you desire from your love labor to the Lord, it may just be fruit that will not produce without the nourishing of the latter rain. Do not give up on it, because you have worked too hard and the fruit is too precious to God.