The Lookout :October 23, 2005 edition

The Ministry of Sewing Seed
By: Dr. Howard Foltz with Ruth Ford

In the 1920s, a Russian scientist named Nikolai Vavilov assembled a legion of 26,000 assistants who traveled the globe, collecting seeds for the world's first major seed bank in Leningrad. During the next 20 years, Vavilov and his aides transported, labeled, and stored seeds from about 200,000 species. Then, because of a difference of scientific opinion with a Stalinist competitor, Vavilov was imprisoned and finally died in 1943.

Russia was engaged in World War II. The terrible seige of Leningrad-St. Petersburg lasted about 900 days. At least 600,000 people starved to death.

Still, Vavilov's botanists continued his work. When they ran out of food, they chose to starve rather than endanger the collection by eating the seeds. Some may debate their wisdom, but no one could doubt their commitment to an ideal, anchored in their understanding of the seeds' true value. These men believed the seeds' future worth outweighed their current value as a quick meal.

The Value of a Seed

Seeds carry life. in the right surroundings, they sprout and grow all on their own - that is th essence of their value. We have little to do with this process, except as we alter their environment. We can improve the soil. We can ensure the optimal amount of water. To a certain degree, we can control the amount of light and heat they receive. But the seed itself sprouts, grows, and reproduces. That is how God designed it (see Genesis 1:11-12).

Jesus illustrated this fundamental process when he described a man scattering seed. "Night and day," he said, "whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come" (Mark 4:26-29).

That story follows the "Parable of the Sower" - the story of a farmer who sows seed and whose yield varies with the quality of the soil. From Jesus' explanation of that first narrative, we know the seed represents God's Word - the expression of his character. This is what Jesus' followers are called to "plant" into the lives of o ther people. God's Word is like seed in at least two ways: It has life (Hebrews 4:12) and it will not be "planted" without effect (Isaiah 55:11).

The central point of God's Word is the gospel. It is the good news that, because God loves people, he initiates reconciliation for a relationship broken by man's sin. It describes the incarnation of God's Son who lived a sinless life and died a sacrificial death to bridge the gap between God and man. It also expresses Christ's ultimate resurrection that sealed spiritual victory for all who come to Christ.

Tradition tells us the British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson was strolling one day when he met General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. Tennyson waved and yelled a greeting. "What is the news this morning?" he asked. Booth replied, "The news is that Christ died for our sins and rose for our justification." Tennyson answered, "Ah, that is old news, and new news, and good news."

The message never changes. Jesus' parable assures us that the Word of God will take root and grow. Yet in God's plan, the yield is affected by our involvement and care. God uses his people to sow spiritual seed. If we fail to plant the message into people's lives, we should not expect a harvest.

Sowing with Faith

Wise King Solomon warned, "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap" (Ecclesiastes 11:4). Conditions are rarely perfect. The farmer knows and accepts that, but he sows anyway, believing that seed will do what God intended.

The great nineteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon made this application: "If a man had not great faith in God, he would not take the little wheat he has, and go and bury it. His good wife might say to him, 'John, we shall want that corn for the children, so don't you go and throw it out where the birds may eat it, or the worms destroy it.'" Spurgeon compared this to the act of sowing spiritual seed. He said, "You must preach the gospel, and you must teach the gospel as an act of faith. You must believe that God will bless it...If it is done merely as a natural act, or a hopeful act, that will not be enough; it must be done as an act of confidence in the living God."

Where does that faith come from? From studying Scripture and seeing God's promises live in our own experiences. From meeting God in prayer and leaving that encounter with the full confidence that he will do what he says. From accepting God's precious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. From participating in the harvest process and seeing God's faithfulness in bringing fruit from our meager attempts.

Scripture tells us that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). The truth of this statement is clearly seen when a farmer plants seeds. There is no visible crop - just a kernel. Even that is not visible once he buries it. As the farmer knows his work will bear fruit, we also can trust that our sowing will not be in vain.

Sowing Intentionally

No farmer would do the hard work of planting crops merely for the physical exercise he gets by wandering around his field. He has a purpose. No matter what a farmer is doing, harvest is on his mind. Similarly, anyone engaged in spiritual harvest must work intentionally. No matter what we are doing, the harvest must be at the forefront of our thinking.

We have opportunities to share the gospel daily, but most of us do not take advantage of them. We are not looking for opportunities, so we miss the chance to plant God's perfect Word into imperfect lives. A person who intentionally watches for God to reveal those opportunities will see them - just like a man named Rigby whose business responsibilities required him to travel regularly to Scotland.

Alexander Whyte of Free St. George's Church in Edinburgh recorded that, when Rigby was in town, he habitually attended Free St. George's on Sunday, but he never came alone. He always brought someone, even if it meant inviting a stranger. This went on for several years before Whyte actually met Rigby. "Man," Whyte said, "I've been looking for your for years." You see, Whyte received a bundle of notes from people who had attended church with Rigby. Those church visits changed their lives. And it all happened because one businessman watched for occassions to plant the gospel in people's lives. He regularly and intentionally sowed God's Word into the people he met, and God used that to bring great harvest.

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