“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat and summer and winter and day and night shall not cease” Genesis 8:22.
God created us in the midst of blessings and desired that we should remain in blessing. God has given us two hands one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sowing. It is that time of the year when members of our congregation are encouraged to give towards promoting the work of God, it is the time to plant that seed that will yield abundant fruit in no distant time.
The seed came from the fruit and the fruit came from the seed (1 Corinthians. 11:12) if you are asked to choose between the seed and the fruit, which one will you take? For children and those who think like them, they will choose the fruit but a good farmer and a wise people will choose the seed. Why should the wise choose the seed? In the remaining part of this food for thought we shall be discussing the importance of seed sowing especially with particular reference to a time of harvest. Every member of our Church must be prepared to sow seed at this season of Harvest because it is in seed sowing that we experience the prosperity that comes from God. In Genesis 25:12-13, the Bible makes us understand that “Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundred fold, because the Lord blessed him”. The man became rich and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. Isaac became exceedingly rich because he planted the seed in a good soil. Every seed sown in the house of God is a seed sown on a good soil and cannot but yield abundant harvest. Jesus also made this clear when He taught as follows “I tell you the truth unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds” John 12:24. When seeds are planted, they produce more seeds, greater in number than what was planted. This understanding of the contents of buried seed challenges us to allow the contents of our lives to be properly made available to promote the work of God here on earth and to the blessing of all mankind. We must also learn the lesson of not withholding the seed but to release it unto God to be multiplied for many more seeds. There are numerous promises on faithfulness, diligence and services. This applies especially to the farmers and in this context every one of us. Afarmer must be diligent to sow at the right time. He must also be hardworking in order to be the first to receive a share of the crops. Paul speaking to Timothy said “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops” 2 Timothy 2:6. The wise man speaking of diligence, asked a question as follows: “Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings, he will not serve before obscure men” Proverbs. 22:29. The problem is in the hand of the farmer or in this case, in our hands whether we are prepared to labour and faithfully scatter the seed. The reason is that God has given us sufficient promise that all things are set to make our seeds prosper- The Lord is ready and willing to bless the works of our hands both in the field and in the household of faith. The goodness of God brings blessings on the seeds we release. All the forces of nature work harmoniously together under the guidance of God for the harvest of the earth.
In 2 Corinthians. 9:5, we are also called to remember that “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously”. How is your sowing – sparingly or bountifully? Brethren, we must realise and accept that our blessings and prosperities are tied to the seeds in our hands or in our pocket. We are by this message encouraged to release the seed we have that we may be blessed.
It is my prayer that as you sow bountifully to support God’s work, He will bless you in return and you will never lose your reward in the name of Jesus.
Have a joyful celebration as you move God’s heart with your life and sowing offering.
Your brother, friend, Pastor & Archdeacon
‘Seyi Pirisola.