Seeds

Pastors, teachers, preachers and ministers of the Lord often refer to the time of giving as a time to sow seeds into the Kingdom of God. As Christians we give for many reasons. Some are practical. We know that money is needed for operational expenses of the church. The light and water bills have to be paid. Church staff have to be paid. Monies are needed to help aid missionaries both near and far. Our giving is a way of sharing the financial responsibilities of the church. It is a practical way to meet practical needs.

Giving also has a spiritual application and it is explained and spoken about in various ways throughout the word of God. Giving is an act of obedience and also a revealer of our hearts. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."

We don't give because God has a shortage in heaven. We give out of obedience. We give to meet practical needs. We give as a way of testing the Lord in His faithfulness to us.

His word tells us in Malachi 3:10,

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it."

God challenges us to try Him in His faithfulness to return what we give to Him. He won't just match our giving. He will exceed it. 

The bible talks a lot about seeds in a few different ways. One of the most familiar passages is the one in Matthew 13:3-9 when Jesus spoke about the Parable of the Sower. It reads as follows:

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

A few verses later Jesus explains in verses 18-23:

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

This parable speaks more on the condition of the soil which the seed is sown into than it speaks of the seed itself. 

Other verses speak about the result of the type of seed you sow.

 Galatians 6:7-9 tells us, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Luke 6:43-44 speaks about the fruit of the seed, “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.

What about the size of the seed?

Matthew 17:20 tells us, "So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

In the church we often define seed as money- tithes and offerings. Money is the most practical seed we can sow to help meet the practical needs of the church. Of course, money is not the only seed and I would dare suggest it is not the most important seed either.

Just as in a garden seeds come in many varieties and can even serve many purposes. Some seeds we can sow in the church and in our lives are:

-Prayer- these seeds are often sown and grow best in the dark. While these seeds are effective when sown in a group, they will also yield beautiful fruit when grown alone. These seeds must be planted with faith seeds.

-Faith- these seeds are companion seeds to the prayer seeds and necessary for prayer seeds to properly germinate and grow. These seeds come in all shapes, though some are even as small as a mustard seed.

-Walking in the Spirit- These seeds are powerful and produce beautiful fruit that all around us can enjoy. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

We begin to walk in the Spirit when we keep ourselves in the word and in the presence of the Lord through prayer. It is then we become immersed in His will, in His desires, in His plan.

-Tithes/offerings- these seeds are a challenge from the Lord that comes with a promise of reward when done faithfully.

At times we may not have seed to sow in regards to tithes/offerings. Some say they cannot afford to tithe. Others say a person cannot afford not to. Regardless of which position you take, a drought is often a drought in regards to finances. This is a time when we may be able to sow secondhand seeds.

Secondhand seeds are seeds we receive from another. They are seeds harvested from the seeds of generosity. For example, a parent may give a child some money to put into the offering plate at church. That child did not have money of his own but was able to sow an offering seed from his parent’s abundance.

Likewise, when in a drought, a friend, neighbor or sometimes even a stranger may offer secondhand seeds to that person who lacks, thus enabling an opportunity for a harvest. Secondhand seeds are precious. They are burden bearing seeds.

Romans 15:1-2 tells us, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.”

This list is only a small example of the seeds that can be sown. As you spend time in the word of God you may find other seeds that you can sow and offer unto the Lord.

No matter which seeds you are sowing, sow in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord. Do not be afraid to be a blessing to others. Do not be afraid to be blessed by the Lord. The beautiful thing about sowing spiritual seeds is that the blooms never look the same, no matter how many times we may sow the same seed.

Let me leave you with 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.”