|
What Are You Sowing?
Ronnie Hayes
In the parable of the sower Christ said, “A
sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the
way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured
it” (Luke 8:5). It is our responsibility to sow the seed.
The seed must be good if it is to bring forth fruit. Also, the soil
must be “good ground” (cf. Luke 8:8), for the seed to
reproduce, as it should. The ground must be receptive to the seed
or it will never bring forth the desired fruit. The ground represents
the heart of the hearers. If the hearer isn’t interested in
the Word of God, then the seed has no chance of having an effect
on the listener. We cannot control the hearts of individuals, but
we can control what we sow.
The question is what are we sowing? Unfortunately
some sow the SEED OF DISCORD. Solomon penned, “These six things
doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud
look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart
that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running
to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth
discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19). Discord is brought
about as a result of misunderstandings, revenge, or anger. Paul
warned, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather
give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). Will we ever learn
that the sowing of discord never does the church or ourselves any
good?
Then there are those who sow the SEED OF DIVISION.
This is not a new problem. Paul faced it with the church at Corinth.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions
among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same
mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me
of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that
there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one
of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and
I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were
ye baptized in the name of Paul” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
One of the most popular questions in our brotherhood is, “Whose
camp are you in?” Our allegiance is not to a school or group
of preachers, but to Christ. I’m on your side only if you
are on the Lord’s side. John wrote, “But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from
all sin” (1 John 1:7). Whose side are you on?
What we need to sow is the SEED OF THE DIVINE WORD.
Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and
doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is this seed that will provide
everything we need pertaining “...unto life and godliness…
(2 Peter 1:3). This seed has the “...power of God unto salvation...
(Romans 1:16). It is by this word that we shall be judged (cf. John
12:48). I love what Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, “And
now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace,
which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among
all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). This is what
we need to be sowing. It is our mission. What are you sowing?
Submitted by Gary & Judy York
Copied from The Visitor
Adamsville Church of Christ, Adamsville, AL
|
