It's Time to PlantSample

Third Law: Some Seeds Should Be Planted, Not Eaten.

By God’s wisdom, Joseph used this principle to save two nations, Egypt and Israel.

Genesis 47:20,23-25

So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold him their fields because the famine was so severe, and soon all the land belonged to Pharaoh… Then Joseph said to the people, ”Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seeds so you can plant the fields. Then, when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.” “You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed…”

The people were hungry, and because they were hungry, they sold their land to the government. You would think that Joseph would say, I will provide you with bread. But no, Joseph said, I will provide you with seed so you can plant. It means that these people did not have seeds, they must have eaten their seeds with their bread. From the scriptures, we see that God always makes provision for seed so you can plant crops.

Joseph knew that what they needed most was seed and not bread. However, Joseph said since you do not know how to separate your seed from your bread, you are to give 20% back to the king and keep 80%. From the 80% you get to keep, a part of it is seed for the fields and the other part is food for you. What Joseph was saying to them, in essence, is do not eat all your seed. If you eat your seed, you are eating your future. The people replied you have saved our lives.

Just as it takes great faith to trust God and tithe, it also takes great faith to save and invest. It is easy to spend: buy this dress, those shoes, that bag, eat out, you name it. Spending all you have is wasting your future. You are eating your future. Stop, don't do that. A lot of people are eating their future and their children's future. 2 Corinthians 9:10 tells us that God gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, but both come in the same form as seed. You have to determine which part is bread to eat and which part is seed to plant. 2 Corinthians 9:10 also tells us that God will give you more and more seed to plant, so that you can have abundance for today and the future. Some seeds should be planted, not eaten.

Can you differentiate your seed from your bread?

What seeds do you need to start setting aside and planting for the future harvest?

Take 5: Talk to God in prayer about your takeaway from today’s reading.