Seeds

July 20

“A man sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was asleep, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and slipped away.” (from Matthew 13:24-25)

While on this “gardening” theme, I wanted to follow-up on this idea of seeds. The concept of seeds, and what comes from them, is a significant theme in the Bible.

For good reason. We have much to learn by looking at seeds and their purpose. Both from a positive side, and a negative.

In our Scripture above, Jesus is telling a parable to illustrate the Kingdom of God. I will tell you right up front that we will not be discussing the main purpose behind Jesus’ words (at least, in this post). But, for our purposes today, we will look at different kinds of seeds and how they affect our lives.

Two types of seeds are sown. Good seed (by the owner of the field) and bad seed (weed seeds sown by the owner’s enemy). There are also two intentions at work. The owner sows good seed, intending to grow and produce a harvest (some for eating; some for re-sowing as the next crop). The enemy sows bad seed, intending to ruin the owner’s harvest (and ruin him financially!) – by trying to cause him to act rashly and destroy his own crop (when he recognizes that there are weeds among his wheat). As we read the parable, Jesus tells us that the trick of the enemy doesn’t work – the owner acts wisely, and leaves us with an important picture of the end times (which is actually Jesus’ main focus).

But here is the point for today… Life begins with seeds. Some seeds will be for our benefit and blessing. But, some seeds will be to our detriment and destruction.

If we really look at it, our very lives are like a field in which many types of seeds are sown. Some by God. Some by His enemy. Some by other people. Some by ourselves. The summary of our lives is a matter of realizing what types of seed have taken root in our “fields” and how the “plants” from those seeds have affected us.

Seeds represent thoughts – a seed-thought that will grow into whatever that thought will produce. These seed-thoughts can be either beneficial or detrimental depending on what we allow to take root within our “field.”

If we allow thoughts of truth… of being treasured, beloved, cherished, useful – and a blessing to others – our “field” will give life and nourishment to ourselves and others. But if we allow thoughts of deceit… of being worthless, unloved or unlovable, useless, or rejected – our “field” will be a mess, and we will be virtually unable to nourish anyone.

This is why the enemy of God (and of our souls) works so hard to plant his seeds of deceit and destruction into our minds and hearts. He knows if we will but receive those bad seeds, and allow those seeds to grow to maturity, we will render our own “fields” unfruitful and unuseful to our Owner.

But if we will “take every thought captive” and set our resolve to only allow good seed into our minds and hearts – we will cultivate a “field” that makes our Owner proud… and provides us a means of constant blessing to others around us.

Thoughts are the seeds of our lives. How we focus our thinking (either upon the good or bad) and what we allow to take root within us, leads to a harvest that brings life… or devastation.

Prayer focus: God, I seek to take every thought captive  — allowing only the good seeds to dwell in my mind and heart.

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