“I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. So neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. He who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor” -1 Corinthians 3:6-8
These words are right with meaning for the true believer. They remind us of the privilege and responsibility we have to plant seeds of faith in the lives of people around us. But what happens with those seeds is not in our control. Only God controls that.
In the above scripture, Paul tells us that “God makes the seed grow.” While that takes the load off our shoulders we still have the responsibility of planting and watering those seeds.
Here’s an example, Imagine cutting an apple in half. Inside you see the yellowish apple flesh, and in the center are several seeds. Now imagine removing just one carefully and gently. We can plant this one seed and water it regularly and we know that God will make a tree grow. We don’t have any idea how many apple seeds will be planted and watered from those apples. And it goes on and on and one.
When we plant seeds of faith it perpetuates the growth of God’s kingdom, as people become followers of Jesus. It perpetuates lifestyles that honor and obey God. It perpetuates goodness, kindness, and love in our homes, our neighborhoods, and the world.
We can be planting and watering seeds of faith everywhere we go and God will grow it into beautiful blossoms or maybe a towering tree of righteousness for His glory.
Isaiah 61 tells says, “The Lord God’s Spirit is on me; because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lords favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion, to give them garland for the ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He maybe gloried.
Each time you see a flower blooms, let it be a reminder of the tremendous privilege and responsibility we have to plant seeds of faith in the lives of people we know. Because it matters eternally.
Sometimes we exist long enough to lead the next generation; other times, only to plant a seed and lead it’s resonation of our time here on earth ripple into waves
A.J. Darkholme
From Pity to Praise 