And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” – Mark 4:26-29
This parable about the kingdom of God reveals that spiritual growth is a continual gradual process that is finally consummated in a harvest of spiritual maturity. We can understand the process of spiritual growth by comparing it to the slow but certain growth of a plant.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:7-9 NIV
It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It’s a natural law to reap what we sow. It’s true in other areas too. If you gossip about your friends, you will lose the friendship. Every action has results. If you plant to please your own desires, you’ll reap a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you’ll reap joy and everlasting life.
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” – Luke 6:38
In context, this verse is talking about forgiveness. What we need to remember from this is, how we treat others will come back towards us in full measure. You reap what you sow, even in your relationships and how you deal with other people.
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. – 2 Corinthians 9:10
The emphasis here is that God is both the source of what is planted and also the source of what is harvested. God gives us resources to use and invest for him. These resources should be cultivated in order to produce a greater harvest. When we invest what God has given us in His work, he will provide us with even more to give to his service.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” – Luke 8:4-8 NIV
The yield depended on the condition of the soil where the seed fell. It is our responsibility to spread the seed of God’s word, but we should not give up when some of our efforts fail. Remember that not every seed falls on good soil.
Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.” – Genesis 26:12-13 NIV
God kept his promise to bless Isaac. Because of this blessing, the seeds that Issac brought 100 fold harvest even though there was a famine in the land. I say this to say that you shouldn’t be discouraged because of the external circumstances. If God’s blessing is on you, then whatever seeds he directs you to plant will bring a harvest.
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” – Genesis 8:22 ESV
Just as sure as night will follow day, winter comes after summer, so to harvest will follow seedtime. Be careful of the seeds that you sow, to make sure that they are good seeds because you will see that harvest come back to you.