By Elder Kimberly Williamson

Day 21 — Seed, Time, Harvest

EXPAND, A Devotional

by Elder Kimberly Williamson

“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,” 2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

There’s no doubt in my mind that farming is hard work but without faith in God, farming has to be the most stressful work on the planet! Imagine planting thousands of seeds then praying for rain — but not too much rain… Then there’s the temperature. It can’t be too hot and it can’t be too cold. And you need sunshine, and good soil… My goodness, nearly everything you need is totally out of your control! Even if you do everything in your power, you still have no control over whether or not those seeds will grow.

God often uses natural references of farming to teach us spiritual principles of seed, time and harvest yet the closest most of us will ever get to actual farming is in planting a store bought seedling! But there is another opportunity for us to learn this principle and reap it’s harvest — by planting seeds of our time and our money to invest in the cause of Christ and the lives of people! The amazing thing is that the process and the reward used in “planting” this way is the same as that of the farmer. The only difference is they produce a harvest of vegetation and you produce a harvest in the quality of your life and the lives of others.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Let’s look at the similarities:

1. Sowing Seed Builds Your Faith! — We’re so accustomed to using money in a tangible exchange for goods and services that we’ve become blinded to the spiritual principle of the seed offering. The result is that we’ve circumvented our harvest of Kingdom growth and financial blessing! Most jobs will only enable you to achieve a certain standard of living but God wants you blessed “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

2. Sowing Seed Teaches Patience! — Just like the farmer, your seed will rarely return an immediate harvest. You have to sow, then wait! But if you’re patient, you’ll reap a harvest! Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

3. Sowing Seed is An Investment in Your Future! — The farmer makes an investment of time, labor and money in full expectation of reaping an abundant harvest! He knows that his labor and his investment are not in vain because God is faithful! “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” 2 Corinthians 9:10–11 NKJV.

We plant, we water, but God provides the increase! (1 Corinthians 3:6–7)

I exhort you to follow the example of the farmer that God has given us — do all that you can do and trust God for the harvest! That’s how Believers are supposed to live! Plant your seed. Exercise patience. And believe! In due season, you will reap your harvest if you don’t lost heart! Be encouraged.

Point To Ponder:

Has the enemy caused you to doubt the value of sowing seed? Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; Mark 4:13–20.