“Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” Genesis 1:11 (NIV)
Everything starts as a seed. That’s the first law of the harvest.
Every achievement started as a seed. Saddleback Church started as a seed when we had a dream to help people meet Jesus. Even your life started as a seed. When your parents got together and you were conceived, your life began. Literally everything that’s living on planet Earth came from a seed.
In Genesis 1:11 God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds” (NIV).
There are physical seeds that you plant in the ground. But seeds are also anything valuable that you give away. When you give away praise, there’s value to that. When you give away good advice, there’s value to that. When you give away your time, there’s value to that. When you give away your money, there’s value to that. When you share your experiences to help other people, there’s value to that. When you give your love away, there’s great value to that.
It all starts as a seed, whether it’s your time, money, appreciation, attention, wisdom, or energy. You will have thousands of opportunities to give away the best of yourself and make a difference for God’s kingdom. You can use those opportunities to sow life.
Your words can also be seeds that you plant in people’s minds. They grow, and they bear fruit. So you need to choose your words wisely. Your words have power over the people you love the most—your children, your spouse, and your friends—but also the people you meet in your everyday life.
What kind of seeds are you planting in your relationships and with the people God brings into your life? It takes courage to plant seeds of trust when you've been hurt. Are you planting seeds of trust—or seeds of distrust? Are you planting seeds of kindness, or are you planting seeds of crankiness? Are you planting seeds that build up, or are you planting seeds that tear down?
Remember: You will reap whatever you sow. So take heart—and be courageous in planting seeds that have great value.
How have you seen the seeds that you’ve planted in your children or family or friends grow and produce fruit?
What is the value in our time? How can giving away our time reap great fruit for God’s kingdom?
Why do you think God wants us to learn to plant in small ways to reap larger benefits?
