Ron Graham was called home on March 14, 2013. He began writing this commentary before his death and had asked me, Nathele Graham, to continue his service to our Lord by finishing what he began.
“And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow” (Matthew 13:3).
Jesus spoke many deep lessons in parables. What is a parable? Strong’s Concordance says: “A parable: an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” Jesus used common examples in His parables that people could relate to, but the lessons He taught are important. This parable of the sower is easy to understand and most of us can relate to the scattering of seeds because we grow flowers or vegetables.
Farmers sow on a larger scale and have large fields in which they plant seeds that will grow into wheat or some other necessary crop. Before planting season they usually have many containers filled with seeds sitting nice and secure in their big old barns. What would happen if farmers would choose not to plant the seeds? What if they just stored the seeds in their barn instead of planting their fields? If the farmer chooses to keep the seeds all to himself his fields will remain barren. Come harvest time what will he have? Seeds. Unplanted seeds just sitting there stored in a barn; nobody would benefit.
The farmer in the parable didn’t know where every seed landed…some of the seeds fell on stony ground:
“Some fell upon stony places where they had not much earth” (Matthew 13:5a).
Some fell in thorns: “And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them” (Matthew 13:7).
It was up to the farmer to plant the seeds, not be sure that each seed fell in perfect soil under perfect conditions. So it is with Christians. Like the farmer, Christians have seeds that need to be planted. You and I read and study our Bibles, and some even do so faithfully every day. As we study God’s word we grow in our knowledge of Him and His ways. If we are diligent we acquire a wealth of understanding. What good is all that knowledge if we keep it stored in our personal little barns? We need to plant seeds wherever and whenever we can. The seeds we plant can make the difference between spending eternal life in heaven or eternal death in hell for someone who is ready to hear God’s truth.
Once we’ve acquired all those seeds of Bible knowledge it’s time to ready ourselves for getting it to the worldly fields of lost souls. What kind of believers would we be if we just kept all that knowledge to ourselves? We would be like a farmer who refused to plant his seeds…deliberately neglectful and very foolish. You see, the knowledge we’ve received from studying God’s Word doesn’t actually belong to us, at least not to us alone. No matter how much we learn about God’s Word through prayer and diligent study, if we don’t plant seeds by sharing with others we hinder the harvest. God’s Word is meant: to be shared. Simply put, God’s Word is public domain.
How do Christians plant seeds of the Word of God? In order to plant we must study and learn God’s Word.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
As we learn more through our careful study of His Word we are able to answer questions from others. Many tragic things happen to people and they often ask, “Why would a loving God allow this to happen?” That is your opportunity to explain that we live in a fallen world and God isn’t to blame. Of course, you need to understand the first chapters in Genesis: God created everything in six literal days, Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden where everything was provided, but Adam chose to disobey God after Eve listened to the voice of Satan and that is where tragedy in life began. Sin and death entered God’s creation. Only if you understand what happened in the Garden of Eden can you explain God’s plan of salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
Only with knowledge of God’s truth can you give a biblical explanation and plant good seeds in the mind of a non-believer. There are many ways to plant seeds. My wife and I pray before our meals. We even pray in restaurants. Usually when the waitress brings our food I tell her that we are going to pray and thank God for our food. Then I ask if there is anything we can ask God for on her behalf, or any praises we can thank Him for. Often the reaction is rewarding.
The waitress sees that someone cares and it is as if a burden is lifted from her. One instance stands out in my mind. It was an extremely stormy evening and when I asked our young waitress if we could pray for her she told us there had been a death in her family and a favorite uncle was traveling in the storm to attend the funeral. He was late and she was concerned. She stayed with us as we prayed, then thanked us. Before our meal was finished she came bustling over with a smile on her face saying that her uncle had just walked into the restaurant. We stopped right then and thanked God for that blessing. A prayer was answered and a seed was planted.
We have all had experiences in our lives that can be used to plant seeds. I was an alcoholic and I also have gone through a divorce. I would not recommend either of these experiences for anyone. Even though I was not a Christian at the time I went through these things. I can use my experiences to understand what others are facing. Now that I know Jesus I can plant seeds and encourage others to put Him first and seek His wisdom. Don’t be tempted to alcoholism by taking that first drink. Make a godly choice in marriage – when choosing a spouse and during the course of the marriage, put God first. Divorce and alcoholism aren’t God’s plan, but I can use my experience to plant seeds of encouragement that may help keep marriages intact or overcome any addiction.
What we’ve learned of God and His will for our lives is a benefit that we can pass on to others. Like the farmer who plows his field, plants his seeds, and then benefits from the results, we too benefit from our due diligence. Likewise, many people can benefit through our seed sowing efforts by absorbing the truth of God’s Word. God’s Word has always meant to be shared and distributed.
Don’t think that it’s all up to you to plant, water, weed, and harvest. If you are tuned in to the Holy Spirit’s promptings you will know when you are to plant a seed, or if it is time to water seeds someone else planted.
[Jesus said,] “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, one soweth, and another reapeth” (John 4:36-37).
When I was a young boy my aunt made sure I went to Sunday school. The seeds she planted took a long time to germinate but she did what she could. Others along the way watered those seeds, including my wife. Finally those seeds grew and I thank God for the many people who had a part in bringing me to Christ. Now I plant seeds, or sometimes I water seeds already planted.
Sooner or later each Christian will be asked a question about his or her faith. In order to plant proper seeds, all of our answers need to be based on God’s Word and not on our own feelings or ideas. That’s why studying God’s Word is so important. We can never fully know everything taught in the Bible. But if a Christian stops studying his or her Bible how can godly answers be given? As Christians we are all teachers to some extent and we must understand there will be severe consequences for passing along bad seeds. In other words, if we’ve changed our Master’s seed or mixed it up with some bad seeds from Satan, and then sowed it in place of the whole truth of God then we must be prepared for the consequences of our erroneous actions.
“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1).
There will be a high cost paid by those who teach a false gospel. Clearly there are challenges to spreading the gospel, but if it were impossible God would never have told us to do so. Sometimes the ground just needs some extra tilling and fertilizing mixed in to reactivate all the nutrients in the soil.
“For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns” (Jeremiah 4:3).
Some hearts are like thorny ground and the thorns need to be removed first. It might take a little work on our part and it might even be painful. Another way to plant seeds is to live our faith:
“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Our choice of friends, words and actions all reflect our faith and how others see our resolve to serve Jesus. Just as an example, assume that your co-workers are angry with the boss. They are saying disrespectful things about him and expect you to join in their slander.
[Jesus said,] “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
Standing firm on God’s Word will plant seeds that show obedience to God. Even our actions in our daily living can be a witness and proof as to whom we follow. Planting seeds can become a habit. It gives us a good feeling when we share God’s truth.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Our actions should show our love for God. So often we think a mission field is a far off place where special people go to spread God’s Word and plant seeds. It is true that there is a great need to reach those in foreign countries, but what about your neighborhood? I own a movie called, “The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.” It tells of a man who hired a youngster to mow his lawn, then invited the boy and his friends to study the Bible with him. Soon Mr. Sperry asks the boy to mow the lawn of a crippled neighbor. The deal was that the boy was not to reveal who had hired him to mow the lawn. As the story progresses it is revealed that the neighbor had been driving the car, which caused the accident in which Mr. Sperry’s wife had been killed. The seeds Mr. Sperry planted taught the young boy many lessons and it was also a lesson in forgiveness to the neighbor. Those are the kind of seeds each of us need to plant.
We cannot sow defective seeds and expect them to grow properly. What would happen to the farmer’s crop if he had sown his seeds sparingly or if he bought seeds he knew were cheap but defective? His harvest would be poor indeed. We can’t plant good seed if we don’t study our Bible in its entirety.
Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:9-10).
God has not changed His mind on any point in Scripture. If we stand firm on every precept we will plant seeds that will draw people away from their sin and closer to God. Too many people try to change His Word so everyone feels like they are okay and going to heaven. Instead of teaching the entirety of God’s Word they ignore many Scriptures, even though those Scriptures might mean the difference between eternal life and death. If we just ignore sin around us, our silence makes it seem as if the sin is acceptable. In love, plant only seeds which will show God’s truth.
Jesus never once said that planting seeds would be easy. He never said to avoid painful subject matter if it might make someone uncomfortable. Plainly we see quite the opposite when it comes to sharing the Gospel of Christ:
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division” (Luke 12:51).
Difficulties can arise as we go about spreading God’s Word and sometimes we’re confronted with uncomfortable situations. We might even make our loved ones turn away from us or lose friends. As we read through the New Testament we read the writings of men who planted seeds in spite of every conceivable risk to life and limb. Paul was beaten and imprisoned many times, as were Peter, John, and the rest. I’ve heard it said that anyone can see how many seeds are in an apple, but only God can see how many apples are in a seed.
These men planted seeds that today are still bearing fruit. As you read this commentary you see Scriptures included that were written nearly 2,000 years ago but still are producing a harvest. How about you? Are you planting seeds that will grow over the years and bear fruit? Or are you planting defective seeds that will not produce true believers? The harvest is coming and time is short. Study God’s Word and then obey Him so that the seeds you plant will grow and mature for an abundant harvest.
God bless you all,
Ron Graham