Need for Seed

Need for Seed

2 Corinthians 9: ⁶ Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop. ⁷ You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly. ⁸ And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. ⁹ As the scripture says,

 

“He gives generously to the needy;
    his kindness lasts forever.”

 

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Both of my grandmothers were not the best cooks, but were always willing to give me food in their house where I borrowed a bed for the time I was there. They weren’t rich, in fact, quite the opposite. But they gave GOD to me in generous doses.

 

• I complained about their food.
• I complained about their bug laced homes and horrible water and discomfort.
• I complained about their constant mentions of JESUS.

 

Paul speaks about a different currency, namely “seed.” This is GOD’s currency and HE is the benefactor who supplies HIS seed. Paul suggests that everyone who takes GOD’s currency and spreads it around generously will grow a large crop.

 

My Observations

• There is a huge need for GOD’s seed and HE wants me to provide it.
• Everyone may not have money but GOD gives them and me, seeds to plant in other’s hearts.
• Seeds and bread seem to be highly important to GOD.

 

When I am greedy, I only see “giving” as a transfer of “my” money to an organization. I mean, I look at my bank account as a measure of how “generous” I can be. I then hear messages about “faith” being based on money amounts given. BUT GOD sees currency differently.

 

HE sends comforters to crying people, joyful to the hurt, peaceful to the angry, loving to the lonely, patient to the impetuous, good to the bad, gentle to the rough, self-controlled to the wild, faithful to those who give up easily and lastly, kind to the unkind. GOD sees and appreciates HIS seeds planted; and grows a rich harvest. I am glad HE provides the right seeds at the right time.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the writer means about a “small” and “large” crop?
• If you had no money, what can you give generously to someone?
• Will you use your GOD given gifts to spread the Good News about JESUS in a way that only you can deliver it so HIS kingdom will grow a large, rich harvest?

The Action IS the Destination

The Action IS the Destination

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: ⁶ I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow. ⁷ The one who plants and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow. ⁸ There is no difference between the one who plants and the one who waters; God will reward each one according to the work each has done. ⁹ For we are partners working together for God, and you are God's field.

 

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When I fell into trouble, I turned to GOD. I figured HE was mad at me for the sins I committed that week or possibly the night before. With an empty bank account and a broken down car, I had nowhere else to turn. “Maybe if I turn to GOD, HE will get these credit collection agencies off my back” I thought to myself.

 

• There have been many times I thought serving GOD was a means to an end.
• There have been many times when I believed I could serve and GOD would react to my service.
• There have been many times that I wondered “what good am I doing and does it make a difference?”

 

Paul tried to reconcile an argument over people following him or Apollos. He explained that both are servants of GOD and neither are more important than the other. The work they do is what matters to GOD and HE will reward people on what they do.

 

• GOD wants me to focus on “planting” HIS plants.
• GOD wants me to know that HE will provide others to water HIS plants.
• GOD wants me to see the vast field HE grows with many plants HE raised up.

 

Plant is an action and a thing. I mean I can plant a plant that plants, plants. But sometimes I want to be the one that grows the plant. That is when I run into issues. I want to control the situation so I can stop or start serving GOD when it pleases me.

 

GOD sees when I am sincere. HE knows the times I am really planting plants for HIM and HE blesses me when I am simply serving HIM because HE is GOD. HE blesses others who do their part in watering, and nurturing the plant during the growth process. I am glad to be a part in the vast field of plants GOD is growing.

 

• Are you trying to do something to get GOD to do something for you?
• Do you look at other people as being more important than you in GOD’s kingdom or vice-versa?
• Will you simply serve GOD today so HE will provide you with HIS blessings?

 

Look at the Planter

Amos 9: ¹³ “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman
    and the planter by the one treading grapes.
New wine will drip from the mountains
    and flow from all the hills,
¹⁴     and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.

“They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them.
    They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;
    they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
¹⁵ I will plant Israel in their own land,
    never again to be uprooted
    from the land I have given them,”

says the Lord your God.

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During the demolition of our garage, I remember tossing junk on the ground next to our neighbor’s garage. It was a sliver of land and one part had sludge poured over it to control weeds. I found a wet bag of fertilizer and I tossed it on one part of the land.

Years later, as I was trying to get my farming merit badge, I planted a few tomato plants in the area between the two garages. They grew into very monstrous plants producing enough tomatoes to give to all our neighbors!

• Sometimes the ground I’m working on seems fruitless.
• Sometimes the situation I’m in seems hopeless.
• Sometimes the problems in life seem like sludge poured over me.

I could not see what was going on. Summer then winter then summer again and I never realized what was going on with the small space. In fact so many years had passed that I forgot where the sludge had been poured and where it had stopped. I planted in the area that was fertile and rich with nutrients. GOD had restored the land.

• GOD wants to restore me even when I cannot see it.
• GOD wants me to see HIS salvation even when I am not looking for it.
• GOD wants me to bear fruit so HE makes the ground fertile enough to do so.

Sometimes I think I have to work “so” hard to please GOD. I mean I have to stop sinning, go to church, give, serve, be good all while working on twenty other things. GOD says to me “Take MY yoke upon you and learn of ME all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

HE seeks to restore me daily and forgives me of all of yesterday’s sins. HE allows me to rebuild the city I have ruined and prepares a place where fruit can be bared!

• Do you need restoration?
• Do you think you need to work hard at serving GOD?
• Can you relax and let GOD make your land fertile?
• Will you slow down enough to listen to the most HIGH GOD and let HIM restore you HIS way?