STXWM Blog

Mark 4:26-29

The Parable of the Seed Growing

²⁶ And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. ²⁸ The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

There is so much about God’s creation that is a mystery to us all. Even with all the scientific advancements and miraculous discoveries mankind has made, God has given us the gift of the Earth and so much within it and we know so little comparatively. I love the imagery of the man scattering seed here. It can be seen as a passive throwing here and there and moving on with life, but some translations call the man a farmer. I grew up around farmers, and all their planting was planned, intentional, and with a specific outcome in mind. 

Farming is hard work. There is much planning work in each stage of the process. If farmers scattered their seed haphazardly much would get lost, blow away, or grow too quickly in shallow ground. A good farmer knows that a harvest isn’t reaped in a day nor is one planned, planted, or picked in one either. Some of my favorite parts of reaping a harvest is the prepping stage. The stage where you pray about where and what the Lord would have you plant. 

Many times when I’m planning my day or week I ask the Lord to guide me not only where I need to go, but to places and people where I may plant seeds in ready hearts, harvest a joyful heart, or at minimum ready a harden heart of stone so someone else might come along and plant a seed of truth. Later another could water that truth with love and fellowship. And when fully matured by God, another worker can come and harvest. This is mankind scattering seed intentionally. When we offer up every aspect of our lives and schedules to God we are obediently living our faith out and trusting the Lord for the harvest. 

This parable reveals to us that the word of God is at work within us even as we sleep. As a type A person this is so hard for me to grasp. I want to be able to contribute to what God is doing. My obedience to be used is what God wants, but I like a practical hands on, or let’s just say it, a controlling approach. Here Jesus is revealing through this glimpse into Heaven that even as we sleep the seed that has been scattered sprouts and grows. What a relief. The weight of eternity is not on our shoulders; it’s safely in the hands of the one who made all things. We can sleep well knowing that God is the one who produces the harvest. 

Have you ever replayed a conversation over and over in your mind? Perhaps had a confrontation you are less than proud of that plays on repeat in your thoughts? Ever wondered if you are the reason someone turns away form Jesus? If I can offer one sliver of wisdom I have gleaned from years in ministry. You, my sweet friend, are not that powerful. Yes, our words and actions are important and can become stumbling blocks for others, but the God of the harvest planned for our humanness. He knew we would stumble, mess up, and fail. Perhaps that is why he gives us so many opportunities to scatter seeds, because not every chance we get will be our utmost. The real work is left up to God, and our greatest contribution is our faith in his will and ability to bring beauty out of dry fallow hearts and cultivate a beautiful harvest. 

A planted seed, many times, can go unnoticed. A verse shared, a bible story read, a prayer prayed—all seeds that can seem like they don’t amount to much. Only God knows how each encounter we have effects eternity. Many times, I see other Christians living lives of obedience or offering their lives up to the Lord in miniature sacrifices throughout the day that even they don’t know have been witnessed by another. Other’s lives of faith impact us without them knowing. No act of love, faith, sacrifice, or obedience is unseen or unused by our Father. 

This is the glory of Christ’s work in us. He takes something as precious and little as a seed, plants it, and in His timing cultivates something worthy of Heaven. The most precious harvest of all, a soul joyfully proclaiming Jesus as King!  

This parable shows us both, what God can do in and with creation and what mankind can do. The man here does what his responsibility is, planting the seed. When we plant seeds the intention should always be to reap a harvest. Not to just do a duty, but to intentionally work for the glory of God. May we always feel the weight of our words and presence in the lives of others and live audacious lives as one who scatters far and wide trusting that the Lord God will transform our little acts of obedience for his glory. May it be on earth, in our daily lives, as it is in Heaven.

by MaKenzie V.