Don't Eat the Seed

I hate poverty. I cannot even fathom watching my child go hungry while I am totally unable to provide nourishment for him. Sadly, many people in this world are going hungry. When I see or hear of stories involving starvation it bothers me incredibly. I would love nothing more than to eradicate such poverty. I heard a story once that moved me tremendously. In some remote African villages something very frustrating often happens. When villages receive seed to plant, they often immediately eat the seed rather than planting it and allowing it to bring forth a harvest. How can this be? Don’t they know they have to plant the seed in the dirt, water it, and allow it to grow before it will bring forth a rich harvest to feed them for a long time? Because of their great hunger, they immediately gobble up the seed, rather than wait for an abundant harvest. In many ways this story helps to explain how Christians can remain spiritually hungry and not see any results even though they have invested time by attending church, listening to the Word, and even reading it themselves. Unfortunately, some who read and study God’s Word still remain distant from God by remaining in their captivity. Is it because they are just “eating” the seed and not sowing it?

Let me explain further. Most Christians have spent countless hours in church listening to hundreds of sermons on how to be free in Christ, live an abundant life, and enjoy a vibrant relationship with the Lord. Many feel energized and empowered as they leave the sanctuary, determined to live as a new creation in Christ. For a little while they are strengthened, but before long they once again become frustrated by life’s many challenges and quickly revert to their old ways. Still others read the Bible as well as other inspiring Christian books on topics of God’s love, forgiveness, and peace. They feel moved by what they have read and compelled to change their ways, yet too often they seem unable to make any sort of lasting change. This is because they have “eaten” the seed instead of sowing it. The seed of God’s Word can temporarily satisfy our appetites by moving us deeply and giving us satisfaction, yet still not produce a harvest. This happens when we do not allow the seed to penetrate deeply by applying the Word of God to the reality of our lives. Jesus says that we must be doers of the Word, not just hearers. When we hear or read a good message and do not apply it to our practical life we are “eating” the seed instead of sowing it. Then we wonder why we are not growing in our Christian walk. Or we believe that God really isn’t answering our prayers because we are not getting the harvest He promised.

God says that a harvest is sown, not eaten as seed. We simply cannot forgo the “doing part.” Not only must we pray and read His Word, we must practice it in the difficult places of our lives, believing and trusting that God will bring about a harvest. Interestingly, a harvest does not occur overnight. Ask any farmer when he planted his crop how long it took before he could harvest it? So why do we want instant results? Why can’t we allow God to work in our hearts through our continued trust and obedience? Before there is any harvest, there is a time of waiting. We, too, must patiently wait for God to reveal His plans and purpose for us. While we are waiting, He is working. More often than not, it is our hearts He is working on! He simply loves us too much to leave us where we’re at. He wants to produce the fruit of the Spirit in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We must be patient and diligently apply the Word of God to our lives. In due time, we will reap the harvest if we do not give up—He promises.

“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25

“Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Gal 6:9

“The seed is the Word of God…But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Luke 8:11-15