The Concept of the Seed in Christian Offerings
Seeds are naturally understood in farming and agriculture, or even in simple gardening and window potting.
However, the concept of the Seed is as old as Creation itself. On the first Third Day, God said:
"Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1:11-12 NIV)
The concept of the Seed was established first even before setting the Sun, Moon and Stars in place!
Now back to the analogy of farming:
A seed is “anything” that is “planted” on the “ground.” This seed, after a period of “time,” bears “fruit.” In the case of many seeds, these result to a “harvest.”
The words in quotation marks are worth defining in terms that matter to a Christian in down-to-earth daily living.
A Seed can be anything.
It can be something material or intangible. For a believer, it is commonly known as money. But then, the concept of money can be broken down into smaller concepts. For example, an employee goes to work using his talents and abilities. After some weeks or so, his mental work for hours is exchanged with some form of payment – usually money. The ‘immaterial’ skill has been turned into cash.
It is the same money in portions of it that the worshiper brings before God as a seed for another something. A churchgoer who claims he has ‘no money’ would mean that he’s not working, or sad circumstances have taken over his life that he is in a position of having no money at all. Either way, there is always something we can bring before God. It could be our services, as much as cleaning the church, and that can be a seed. And it’s only a small start. A seed begets seeds, and more seeds – the cycle of seeding.
We all need to start somewhere, and the Seed is the key.
The Bible talks a lot about the Seed and its power. For now, let’s start with this: A seed is something we plant for another thing we want or need in life.
“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 forever." 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. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV)
In the coming posts, the sections and layers of these wonderful verses will be laid out. As it builds your faith to give and to receive, allow the principles of Biblical economics to go into full cycle in your life – a life of sowing and reaping the goodness of God.
