The Seed of Growth
By
Shelby G. Floyd
We can double the size of every
congregation of the Lord’s church if we all will get involved in the law of the
seedtime and harvest. Solomon taught that if we are to expect a harvest we must
get up early in the morning and sow the seed and not wait till the evening of
life: “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be
idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether
both will do equally well.” (Ecclesiastics 11:6).
In many of the parables that Jesus taught, God is pictured as the owner of a huge farm with an abundant harvest. But much of the harvest may possibly be lost because of a lack of workers. Jesus said, “The harvest is truly plenteous but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37).
God can do whatever pleases him: “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.” (Psalms 115:3), but it does not please him to circumvent his own plan to save man. Paul outlined God’s plan in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 10:13-17
For “whoever calls on the name of the
LORD shall be saved.” How then shall
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach
unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those
who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad
tidings of good things!” But
they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD,
who has believed our report?” So
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
NKJV
From the inspired statement above, we outline the steps in God’s plan to save man:
1. God saves those who call on the Lord.
2. Men cannot call on someone they do not believe in.
3. They cannot believe in one of whom they have not heard.
4. They cannot hear unless someone preaches the word to them.
5. Someone must send and someone must go to sow the seed.
The lack of growth is and always has been a lack of workers. Unless
we all get involved in making disciples, no one will go. Like the apostle Paul,
let us say that “the love of God compels me,” to carry our own load and
go forth to do good works. Copyright © 2008