Text: Mark 4:1-29.
Introduction.
There are basic laws set throughout the universe. We know if we plant a seed in the ground it will grow, provided certain rules are applied to the laws of growing. These laws are shown in the parable of the sower and the seed. Anything planted follows this same law of the harvest.
Universal Laws of the Harvest: (from John Avanzini’s book, 30, 60, Hundredfold)
Law #1: Your seed must be planted, John 12:24; Eccl. 3:2; J
Law #2: You must render your seed useless, John 12:24.
Law #3: You must plant what you expect to harvest, Genesis 1:12; Galatians 6:6-10.
Law #4: Your harvest size is established when your seed is sown, 2 Corinthians 9:6.
Law #5: Your seed must be planted in good ground, Matthew 13:8; Mk 10:29, 30.
Law #6: Always wait a period of time between planting and harvesting, Mk 4:26, 27.
Law #7: You must maintain your crops for a proper harvest, Matthew 13:7; 6:33.
Law #8: Always sow to your harvest, not from it, Gen 26:12; 1Kngs 17; Mark 2:41-44.
Law #9: Your expense is always highest at harvest time, Matthew 20:1.
Law #10: A part of your harvest is for sowing again, 2 Corinthians 9:10.
Law #11: A part of your harvest is for you to keep, 1 Corinthians 9:7.
Law #12: Your harvest is a miracle, 1 Corinthians 3:6.
The Word of God as seed, (Mark 4:1-29).
Jesus uses the parable of the sower and the seed to show how the Word of God can grow out of us once it is planted in us.
Money as seed.
Money is too often looked at as evil, but money is not evil: only the “love of money is the root of all evil. . .” (1 Timothy 6:10).
God has always intended for us who love Him to use our money (wealth, finances, resources) as a means to be blessed and bless others, (Deut. 15:7-11; Ps. 35:27; Prov 8:18-21; 10:22; 28:27).
When it comes to money, many are quick to hold it for their own private needs.
Yet we are given wealth that we might be a blessing with it, (Matthew 5:42; Proverbs 22:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8).
If you were given a source of money and challenged to find the best investment on earth to put this money into. What would be your choice? Investments are risky and the higher yield you desire, the greater the risk. There is a risk free place to invest money, In the Lord, (Mark 4:8; Luke 6:38).
So thinking on using money as seed, we have been given our resources in order that we plant. 2 Corinthians 9:7-11 The Living Bible:
“7. Everyone must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes. 8. God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will not only be enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to give joyfully to others. 9. It is as the Scriptures say: “The godly man gives generously to the poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever. 10. For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest. 11. Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much. . .”
Faith as seed.
Planting is an act.
Act of obedience toward God.
Give what God tells you to give, this is the obedience.
Don’t give God your manna. It is not sacrifice as much as obedience, 1 Samuel 15:22.
Act of faith that it is God’s miracle to give harvest.
Don’t pull out the miracle, let God bring it out, Hebrews 11:1.
The harvest will be in ways you can’t control.
Act of letting God give back what is His natural law.
Not expecting something in return, stops God from working.
When we give without a desired result we are not giving in faith.