The Blessed LifeSample

THREE SEED PRINCIPLES

There are three fundamental principles relating to seed that I want to tell you about.

1. You reap what you sow. I'm sure you've heard this phrase before. It's a common saying because it's a self-evident truth. For example, if you sow corn, you reap corn; if you sow wheat, you reap wheat; and if, as Paul suggests, you sow money, you reap money. It's a law that was established at the creation of the world, which we read in Genesis 1:11–12:

Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

However, as glaringly obvious as this principle sounds, you'd be surprised how many times I've observed people expecting things to work some other way in their case. Can you imagine a farmer standing in a field in which he has sown wheat seeds and being frustrated because corn is not appearing? That would be foolishness. But that is precisely what so many believers do. They expect a harvest of something they've never planted. Let me emphasize once again, this is not a holy get-rich-quick scheme. We don't sow for the purpose of getting more money; however, financial growth is a by-product of bountiful sowing.

2. You reap after you sow. This is the second principle you need to know. Once again, I know that seems mind-numbingly simple but you cannot believe how many people say things like, "Someday, when I have more money, I'm going to be a giver." It will never happen. You can't reap before you sow. Once again, this is a principle God has woven into the natural order of things. Jesus affirms this in today's Scripture (Mark 4:26) when He says, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow."

Imagine the same foolish farmer I mentioned earlier now standing in the field waiting for a crop to come in when he has never planted a seed. "Once this crop comes up, I'm going to do some serious sowing," he says confidently. "I'll be a bigtime sower if I ever get this crop to come in." Of course, this is absurd. Yet I have heard many believers say pretty much the same thing, such as, "If God will help me close this major business deal, I'm really going to start giving to the church." It's the one who is faithful with little who will receive much. You have to start where you are.

3. You reap more than you sow. The essence of this principle can be found in Psalm 126:5–6, which says, "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." As this passage implies, the principle of harvest increase is so powerful that, even if you're crying as you scatter your little bag of precious seed, your tears will turn to rejoicing as you begin bringing in your sheaves of harvest.

Think about it—just a few kernels of planted corn will produce a stalk with several ears. And each ear will contain hundreds of seed kernels (approximately 400 kernels). That's a pretty good return, isn't it?

You always get more when you sow God's way, but it's up to us to take the first step. That starts with being faithful in planting the first seed. It may be difficult to take the first step, but once you do you'll be rewarded with much more than you ever expected.

PRAYER
Lord, thank You for creating these seed principles. In Your kingdom, one small seed produces more than I can imagine, so help me to bountifully sow good seed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE
"You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it." MATTHEW 21:22 (NLT)