As Christians, we are all familiar with attending church and hearing the pastor say something about ‘sowing seed’ during the service. This often raises questions for new congregation members: Why does this happen? What is its purpose? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at why so many churches sow seeds.
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So, Why Do We Sow Seeds In Church?
Here are some reasons why I think we sow seeds in the church.
- Biblical Principle of Sowing and Reaping: One of the first reasons why I think people sow seeds in church is that they want to obey the principle of sowing and reaping.
- Expressing Gratitude: Sowing seeds is also a way to express gratitude towards God for His blessings. It’s an acknowledgment that everything we have comes from Him, and we give back a portion of what was originally His.
- Supporting the Church’s Mission: Your seeds help sustain the church and its various ministries, enabling it to carry out its mission of spreading the Gospel and serving the community. Sowing seeds is a tangible way to contribute to the growth and maintenance of your place of worship. Mal. 3:10 sheds more light on this.
- Faith in Action: Sowing seeds symbolizes faith in God’s provision. By giving, we trust that He will continue to provide for our needs and the church’s needs. It’s an act of obedience and a demonstration of our belief in His faith.
Is it biblical?
Yes, the concept of sowing seeds in the church is indeed biblical and has its roots in several passages from the Bible.
One of the best biblical examples of seed sowing in the church is seen in the acts of the believers of the early church. In Acts 4:34-35, it is mentioned that the believers sold their possessions and brought the proceeds to lay at the apostles’ feet.
In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, the Bible states, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
This verse strongly emphasizes the principle of sowing and reaping.
It’ll also interest you to know that God gives a lot of preference to the faith behind sowing. He doesn’t necessarily look at what we offer but at the heart and motive with which we give it.
In Luke 6:38, we find another endorsement of generous giving: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Here, giving, or “sowing seeds,” is again encouraged, assured of blessings in return.
What you should know about your seed.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when you sow a seed.
1. God will bless you.
When you sow seed, you can expect God to bless you. He is faithful to His promises, and He will reward you for your obedience, especially if you’re sowing your seed for the right purpose, backing it up with the right prayer, and you’re not living in sin.
2. It must not always be a financial seed.
Yes, it’s not a must to sow financial seeds. You can sow seeds of cleaning the house of God, providing for the less privileged especially through the church, as well as using your time and skills to help advance the kingdom of God.
3. You may not get money back when you sow a financial seed.
Some people believe that when you sow financial seeds, you will get financial blessings. While this is true to an extent, it doesn’t mean it will always happen this way. When we sow financial seeds but God knows we need harvest in health, He can decide to give us sound health. Hence, sicknesses that would have cost us money to get treatment are healed for free for a seed we may have sown a long time before we even fell sick. In essence, it’s at His discretion to give us the harvest we truly deserve.
4. Your harvest can be hindered.
It’s true that God will bless you when you sow seeds, but these blessings can be hindered if you’re doing something wrong. I mentioned a few reasons why your seeds may not bring results in the section below.
4 Reasons Why The Seed May Not Bring Results
When it comes to seed sowing, some people have a lot of misconceptions. They think that as long as they plant the seed, the harvest will come automatically. However, that’s not always the case. These four factors may be why your seeds aren’t getting the results you expect.
1. The condition of the ground.
This refers to the altar where you’re sowing a seed. There’s no denying that not all the churches and altars that call on the name of Jesus are of God. When you sow to the altar of the devil disguised as the altar of God and you’re expecting God to bless you for the seed you’ve sown, you’re only wasting your time. Having the spirit of discernment is very important because false prophets will abound in these last days.
2. Your heart as the sower.
Are you sowing grudgingly within but smiling outside? Were you coerced into sowing the seed? What did you mutter within your heart while you sowed this seed? These are some pertinent questions to ask yourself when you want to sow a seed.
God considers our hearts greatly when we come to give him gifts. It’s the heart that reveals the purpose of the seed. If the heart is pure, then the purpose and the intentions of the seed will be pure.
3. The purpose for sowing the seed.
What’s the motive for sowing the seed? To make people see you or hail you as giving much? Or are you interested in getting something in return that you’ll show off for your own glory and not God’s glory?
James 4:3 makes it clear that most times we pray and ask amiss because we want to consume the answer to our prayers on our lusts and things that don’t glorify God. Make sure the purpose of sowing the seed is God-oriented (kingdom-oriented).
4. Keeping your relationship with God.
Paul said in 1 Cor 3:6 that even though he has planted, only God gives the increase. This suffices to say that your relationship with God is important if you must reap the fruits of your labor. The Bible also mentions in Jer. 5:25 that our sin keeps good things from coming to us. If you keep living a sinful lifestyle, but you sow seeds regularly, you may not reap the fruits of your labor.
Prayers to pray before sowing a seed
- First, thank God for the privilege to give the seed to him.
- Tell Him the purpose of the seed. If you’re sowing a seed for financial breakthrough, children, marital blessings, or education, say it. Be bold and specific.
- Believe that He has answered your prayers and give him thanks.
Here’s a short prayer
Dear God, thank you for the privilege to give this seed to you. All that I have and will ever have, you’ve given me, and I want to say thank you for it. As I drop this seed, I call it my seed of financial blessing/favor/marital blessing/health and I believe in your power of making this seed yield a harvest. I thank you for all that you’ve done and all that you’ll do through this seed and I will testify of your wonderful works, in Jesus name, Amen.
Does the bible encourage us to sow in the church?
In Luke 8:5 to 8, Jesus told us the parable of the sower and how sowing seeds in different places yields different results. He also highlighted factors that could hinder the growth of a seed. I leave you to be the judge.
Here are other bible verses that talk about sowing seeds.
- Proverbs 11:18
- 2 Corinthians 9:6
- Galatians 6:7
- Ecclesiastes 11:6
- Luke 6:38
- Mark 4:26-29
- Proverbs 11:24-25
- Genesis 26:12
- Genesis 8:22
- John 12:24
The importance of seed sowing can be seen throughout the Bible. It is an act of faith, love, and sacrifice. It is also an act of proclamation. As Christians, we are called to sow seeds so that we can reap the benefits of a bountiful harvest. By doing so, we are investing in our future and the future of those around us.
