A Time to Sow: Part 2Sample

Reaping a Plentiful Harvest

Consistency is critical for growth. Take for instance the new seeds a gardener plants. The gardener needs to make sure that the seeds have the right amount of sunlight, nutrients, and water for the plants to sprout. If the gardener chooses to only maintain the plant when he or she wants to, it could be detrimental for the plant. To increase the number of plants, the gardener will continue to plant more seeds.

2 Corinthians 9:6 to 7 says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” How often do you hold back on the seeds you are planting?

Your willingness to sow seeds generously may be due to fear, laziness, selfishness, or even your circumstances. Yet, if you are always waiting for the perfect conditions to sow seeds, you won’t have a harvest to reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.”

The interesting thing about plants is some will only grow as big as their container will allow them to grow. For them to continue to flourish, they may need to be transplanted to larger containers or surfaces. If they aren’t transplanted, the gardener can miss out on the plant’s potential. If a pot is too small for the plant, it can constrict the plant’s roots. When a plant is too confined it can stop growing and can often die.

People often say that they are waiting to have their life in order before they are willing to take a leap of faith. Imagine if Steve Jobs waited to follow his dream until he was financially secure or had the right amount of knowledge. Jobs came from humble beginnings and even dropped out of college to work for a video gaming company. To support his entrepreneurial endeavors he sold his car, and he started Apple with his friend in a garage. He became a millionaire at the age of 23, and we all know what happened with his company.

Reaping a plentiful harvest requires consistency, boldness, and awareness. You have to be continually aware of where the Spirit leads you. I once heard a missionary say that he prays for God to make him uncomfortable. Why? Because it requires growth in one’s spiritual faith, personal life, and even career. If you are not willing to get out of your comfort zone, it can mean you are not willing to grow.