Title: Seed Gospel
Contents
♡♥♡ Seed Gospel / Mark 4:26-32
***Introduction
It is the sowing season when farmers are busy. No one will ever ask a farmer, 'Why are you so busy plowing and sowing?' Because they know well that they plow a field to sow, and sow in order to reap a harvest. It goes without saying that unless you sow a seed, you will not reap anything.
Me, you, and all of us plant something in our own lives, and at some point we will reap the fruits of it. Whether you sow what you want or not, the results of what you sow will appear. This is because it is the law that God has established in the world he has created. In Jeremiah 6:19, “Hear, O earth. I will bring calamity upon this people, and this is the result of their thoughts. For they have not listened to me, they have rejected my law.” In verse 32:19, “You are great in counsel and mighty in action, and you pay attention to all the ways of mankind, according to their ways and the fruit of their deeds. You retaliate.” Jesus also said in Matthew 16:27, “The Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of the Father, and at that time he will repay each one according to what he has done.” In this way, all that we sow with our thoughts and deeds, the results will appear, and God said that He will repay you according to the results.
This is a story that was published in SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES a few years ago.
A woman fell ill. At that time, the woman made an oath to a neighboring Christian. “If God gives me a new life, I will be a completely different person from now on. We will take our children to church and let them grow up the way God wants them to be.” Perhaps thanks to that oath, she miraculously fully recovered after that. And for several months, he kept his oath. Gradually, however, as time went on, they began to return to the old, debauched lifestyle.
Then, one day, a small amount of alcohol was the cause, and while driving a car with a friend, I had a serious car accident. There was a word that came to mind of that Christian neighbor who heard this news. Proverbs 29:1. “He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed and will not escape.”
What you sow, you will reap someday. A farmer knows when to reap the seeds he sows, but only God has the time to reap the seeds of man's thoughts and actions.
What have you planted so far, and what are you planting now? Do you think that what you sow will return to the fruit of your life? Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not deceive yourself. God is not despised; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” This is the seed gospel.
This ‘seed gospel’ is contained in the text of this hour. In verses 4:1-32, the parable of the seed that compares the three kingdoms of heaven, the parable of the sower, the parable of the growth of the seed, and the parable of the mustard seed, appears in succession. This is the biblical emphasis. It shows that the metaphors are different, but just as important. So let's ponder what these 'seed parables' mean.
1. First, let's look at the meaning of these parables.
The parable of the sower in verses 1-20 shows the state in which the seeds of the gospel are sown and the state of the field that receives the seeds, as we know well. The word of God is equally sown to everyone as the same word. However, depending on the state of mind of the person who receives it, it may not sprout at all, or die while it sprouts, or it may fail to bear fruit or bear fruit.
In verses 26-29 there is a parable of the growth of the seed. In this parable, people do not feel it well, but the seeds sown go through the process of growing, bearing fruit, and they are harvested. In other words, it is the truth that ‘there must be a time for seed growth, fruitfulness, and harvest.’ The things we think and do during our lives are growing, even if the progress or results may not be immediately apparent, and there will always be a time of judgment based on the results and results.
Verses 31-32 have the parable of the mustard seed. This parable speaks of the unexpectedness of the results of sowing. It shows that the seed we sow, like a mustard seed, which is smaller than all seeds, may be insignificant, but the result can be unimaginably large. The reason is that it is God who produces results. Jeremiah 33:2 says, “The LORD who does the work, the LORD who builds it and fulfills it… ” he said.
2. Let's get into the important core of the seed gospel.
1) You must sow the seeds.
Seeds exist to be planted. A seed that is not planted is meaningless, and no results can be expected. So the seeds must be sown. No matter how small or insignificant it may be, it must be planted first. Sow with all your might, talents, and circumstances, relying on God. Even if it seems like a no-brainer to us. We must leave the results to God and plant them.
That is why the Lord taught the parable of the mustard seed, saying, “Be the least of all seeds.” This means to sow and start, even if it's the little things that people consider insignificant. The Lord set an example in this as well. The humble and ignorant fisherman, the tax collector who is synonymous with sinners, the bloody, hot-blooded people, and the poor and sick were the first seeds of the kingdom of God that Jesus sowed on this earth.
Let's look at God's promise to the sower. 2 Corinthians 9:6 says, “This is the saying, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Whoever reaps and sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, unless we are weary.” Even in Psalm 126:6, He said, “He that goes out weeping to sow seed will surely return with joy, carrying the sheaf with it.”
The work of the Spirit and the work of God are not marked and rewarded in an instant. So, I try to only do things that people know and appreciate. Not only that, many people become disappointed or discouraged while doing the Lord's work and give up halfway through or go back to the world. But do not forget that the Lord admonishes us, 'Do not become weary in doing good.' Also, don't forget that what you do in secret is approved of God.
If you work to show people, you will be recognized and praised by people, but God has declared that you will have nothing to repay.
Do you have time? At that time, look after those in need, share the gospel, and find work you can do. Do you have any talent? If you are good at music, good at drawing, good at teaching, or with dexterity, do not hide the talent that the Lord has given you, and serve God with that talent. Do you have a substance? Be rich in good works and use them in God's work for everlasting life and reward. 1 Timothy 6:18,19 says, “Do good, be rich in good works, be generous and sympathetic. This is to build a good foundation for yourself in the future, so that you may take the real life.”
2) After spraying, you must take good care of it.
After sowing the seeds, they must be carefully cared for. From now on, keep an eye on the church's fields. You will find that how well weeds grow and if you neglect management even for a moment, it is difficult to expect good results. As the old saying goes, 'No one can become rich as long as the weeds are as good as the weeds.' Weeds grow well, and the grains and vegetables are poorly roasted.
So, after sowing the seeds, weeds must be plucked so that they can grow well, and they must be managed carefully and diligently, occasionally fertilizing and watering. The weeds that ruin the work of my spirit are small worldly habits and seemingly insignificant things of sin. Weeds have very deep and wide roots. So, when it sprouts, it should be plucked out while it is still young. If you try to pluck after they have already grown, there is a risk that even grains and vegetables will be pulled. Likewise, if we procrastinate and hang on to the world by saying, ‘A little longer, then a little while longer,’ you will eventually fail to get good results or suffer the destruction of the spirit.
We must never neglect the small things, whether good or sinful. We can be glorified or we can die for the little things. Also, the Lord never entrusts large things to those who neglect small things. In Matthew 5:19, “Therefore, whoever breaks even one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others in the same way, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever practices these things and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” In verse 21, “His master said, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! Since you have been faithful over a little thing, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”
Isn't it the same in our society? I entrust the big things to those who are meticulous in the little things. If you too want a successful life and great growth, you have to be faithful with the little things you have now. When you handle it well, He entrusts you with a big task, and when you give thanks for a small grace, He gives you an opportunity to receive great blessings.
3. The time of harvest is sure to come.
He says it in the parable of the growth of the seed. You can't see the seed growing and bearing fruit, but the fruit will ripen and there will be a harvest. Although we cannot see the process of our work and the process of maturation, God has promised that the results of our work will be achieved. Do you also believe in God's promises? Then, even if the answers to prayers are slow and the results of work do not appear quickly, let's wait without being disappointed or discouraged. Waiting for the outcome that God will accomplish.
We brought nothing with us when we came to this earth. Nor will you take anything with you when you return to dust. This is because everything belongs to God and was entrusted to us for a while while we lived on this earth. We have been given the opportunity to provide eternal life and happiness in the perishableness of the world. Therefore, let's plant and nurture when we have the opportunity, using all of our given talents, materials, and circumstances. Even if it's small. In due time, God will bring good fruit.
I pray in the name of the Lord that your life may be filled with good fruits that are valuable before God and for your descendants.