The Lesson of the Seed

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;

but God that giveth the increase."

- I Corinthians 3:7

 

Lilias Trotter

As believers, we are called to spread the gospel. In Scripture, this is likened to a farmer sowing and watering seeds (Matthew 13:3-23). The farmer, however, cannot force the seeds to germinate and grow into healthy plants or trees. All he can do is sow and water.

 

In a similar way, as we are yielded to Christ, He can use us to plant gospel seeds in the lives of those around us, and if He gives us opportunity to do so, "water" those seeds. But we cannot make the seeds grow -- we cannot make someone accept the gospel. Only God can give the increase. Our responsibility is to be yielded to Christ, willing to be used as He desires and "ready always to give an answer to to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is within you" (I Peter 3:15). That is our part. The person within whom we "plant" the "seed" must accept it himself.

 

"It does not follow that every seed will spring up: it is not so in the natural world. The plant's business is to scatter it, not withholding, not knowing which shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good; once scattered, the responsibility is transferred to the ground that receives it. But the aim of the plant - the goal of all the budding and blossoming and ripening - is that every seed should carry potential life. Thus are we responsible, not for the tangible results of our ministry to others, but for its being a ministry in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, such a ministry as will make those around us definitely responsible to God for accepting or rejecting the fullness of His salvation. If so, the 'signs following' will not be wanting. It will be to the one the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life, but 'whether they hear, or whether they will forbear, they shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.'"

- Lilias Trotter, Parables of the Cross

 

 

(for other installments in this series, see the lessons of the buttercup and the dandelion, and the husk of independence.)