What Type of Seeds Do You Plant?
By David J. Stewart
Luke 8:5 and 15, “A sower went out to sow his seed... But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”
Most religious people these days are planting the wrong kind of seeds. Instead of planting the Seed of the Gospel, they are planting seeds of hatred, gossip, and wickedness. While some Christians are keeping busy soul-winning, contending for the faith, and serving God; other backslidden and carnally-minded believers are working against the cause of Christ by spewing hatred, gossip, and sowing discord amongst brethren. God will judge each and every believer individually at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:10-11; James 4:12, 5:9).
I would be ashamed if one day I stood before God, having spent my life tearing people down with malicious gossip; rather than building up the Body of Christ by soul-winning and earnestly contending for the Christian faith. Some people have nothing more going for them than to slander, gossip, and tear others down with their malicious words. I refuse to live like that, planting seeds of hatred and contempt, which is exactly how Satan behaves. Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” You are never more like Satan than when you point fingers at anyone. Satan accuses believers to God day and night the Bible says, just like some wicked people do. I condemn no one, just as Christ condemned no one (John 3:17). God's Law condemns the whole world (Romans 3:19).
I choose rather to spend my time soul-winning, contending for the Christian faith, and living for God by helping others (Philippians 2:4-5).The Bible teaches in Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” When people condemn you and try to discourage you, overcome evil with good by sharing the Gospel, give out Gospel tracts, distribute Gospels of John, or do something in Jesus' name that glorifies God the Father. Let the wicked tear each other down, wasting their lives away scorning one another in childish hatred; but I'm going to continue laying up treasures in Heaven by faithfully serving my King, preaching the Gospel of Christ Jesus to all.
What type of seeds do you plant?
The Bible teaches that a Christian believer with an honest and good heart keeps the Word of God and brings forth fruit. To bring forth fruit, seeds must be planted in order for something to grow. This means sharing the Gospel with others so that they can be saved. Most professed believers have their own selfish agenda and never share the Gospel with others. Most believers are choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of this temporal life (Luke 8:14). Very few believers live from day-to-day with Heaven's closeness in view. Do you have any idea just how close we are to eternity?
While soul-winning Christians are working to get sinners saved, there are others who work against their labors in the Lord. While one is pushing, the other is pulling. While one is building, the other is tearing down. This ought not be. Those carnally-minded believers who stifle the work of God and sow discord amongst brethren will face the terror of the Lord on Judgment Day (2nd Corinthians 5:11). They will lose all their rewards. God calls the feet of the soul-winner, beautiful (Romans 10:15). There is nothing beautiful about a gossiping tongue that spreads manure and instigates contempt and hatred toward others. In fact, God hates a lying tongue, a proud look, hands that shed innocent blood, feet that are quick to mischief, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, a false witness that telleth lies, and he that soweth discord amongst brethren (Proverb 6:16-19).
What type of seeds are you planting? Are you planting seeds of hatred, gossip, and distrust of others? Or are you planting the Seed of the Gospel everywhere you go? Are you planting seeds of good works done in Jesus' name? Or are you planting seeds of contempt and hatred toward others by your calloused and hardened heart?
Let's cut to the chase... are you a builder or a destroyer?
Most professed Christian believers today are floaters, neither building nor destroying. They simply don't care either way. Our churches are filled with floaters who sit on their blessed assurance, never doing anything to make a difference for Christ by sharing the Gospel. 2nd Corinthians 4:3, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” Oh how great the cost of silence? The world is headed for eternal damnation in the Lake of Fire. If we hide the Gospel by remaining silent because we are too preoccupied with this temporal world, then it is the lost who will suffer the eternal consequences in Hell. This is exactly what 2nd Corinthians 4:3 states. If we fail to preach the Gospel, it is only hid from those who are lost.
