Don't Eat Your Seed!

DON’T EAT YOUR SEED!

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:6-10)


The passage above is yet another one of my favorite portions of Scripture. In it, God communicates His dedication to our well-being, and gives us some very practical instruction about how to apply His principles to our lives in a way that will produce abundant blessing and equip us to live generously. He then underscores that instruction with a promise to release a flow of His grace through our lives that will cause the already powerful principle of seedtime and harvest to produce in an even greater way.

It seems that recently we have been involved in a lot of discussions about finances. The last three years have been very difficult, to say the least, here in our area. I know that many of you have been challenged to believe God for provision to a greater degree than ever before. We have been praying for people’s jobs, praying over the ability to pay mortgages, helping people with food, clothing, shelter, even giving away free oil changes. I can look right across the road from our property and see a sign that says “4.8 Acres For Sale. Bank Owned.”

A couple of local businessmen purchased that land and began to develop it right about the same time we started trying to acquire the church property. They had big dreams and, to my knowledge, didn’t go about their plans in a foolish manner. But the sudden halt of work and commerce in the area took them out. It really breaks my heart to think about it.

One thing Karen and I have been reminded of as we pray through our own set of financial challenges right now, is the Biblical instruction to plant financial seed. I believe that the passage from 2 Corinthians means that every time God brings increase into our lives, whether from work, a gift, or a windfall, some of that increase is seed and some of it is bread. One of the worst things you can do when facing financial hardship, is to allow yourself to begin to eat your seed. We eat our seed anytime that we choose to use that portion of our income that either belongs to God, (I believe that is the tithe) or that He has asked us to give into His kingdom, (an offering over and above the tithe) to pay our bills or spend on ourselves.

In times of shortage, we are all tempted to eat our seed. We tell ourselves it’s just temporary, we say, “just this time.” But the eating of seed eliminates a future harvest in finances just as surely as it does in a field of corn or wheat.

The only reason to eat seed is because we have become convinced that God is unable or unwilling to provide both seed and bread. Yet, that is exactly what He has promised to do. Most of the time, we don’t ask Him what portion of our income is seed, and what is bread; we just compare income with bills and pay the bills first. Instead, we need to pray over income, follow instructions carefully, sow our seed first, and adjust our lifestyles to fit the bread we have to eat. As time goes on, we will experience the increase that comes from grace coupled with wise sowing and reaping–more seed, more bread, more provision for ourselves and others, and more thanksgiving going to God (2 Corinthians 9:11-15).

I want to strongly encourage you, whatever your financial standing at this time, NEVER allow yourself to start eating your seed. Oh, and by the way, this same principle applies to every area of life. Time, money, relationships, career, the list is endless. You are blessed today to be a blessing to someone else. Live that lifestyle with all your heart and watch the grace of God abound toward you, that having all you need all the time, you will be equipped to give into every good work. Make 2012 the year that you sow your seed first, and eat only what God has designated as bread.