Sowing Seeds Under The Power Of God's Word

Many believers may be surprised to learn the bible's teachings about providence and reciprocity. In both Old Testament and New Testament scriptures, God shows that providence is a tangible outgrowth of His word's activity.

In the clearest of terms, Isaiah's prophecy explains that God's word will not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. This is an iron-clad guarantee for God's people to recall even in the direst of circumstances.

One can presume that adversity is a constant in this world, and yet rest assured that no obstacle is any match for God's word in fulfilling God's purposes. On psalmist observes that he who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying [harvest] sheaves with him.

Extended adversity cannot undermine God's providence. His victory simply does not depend on how “successful” we seem to appear in carrying out our lives' responsibilities.

We do have stewardship duties to which God holds each of us accountable. But our role as harvest workers is never to be confused with His role as Lord of the harvest.

Jesus goes even further to explain how God operates miraculously through our everyday diligence in financial stewardship. He says: “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.

None of us has any meaningful control over the means by which a good measure is poured into our laps. That is God's business. Our business is simply to be faithful and obedient in being givers.

Obedience means focusing not on our own understanding, but instead on what God has instructed us to do. Isaiah's prophecy teaches that God teaches us what is best for us – in the way that we will experience beneficial gain – and directs us in the way that we should go.

As we follow God's instructions, we avoid the pitfalls of seeking merely-material outcomes, instead of an eventual harvest of righteousness which is the purpose for which God's providence is directed. We must never forget His admonition that we must seek first His kingdom and righteousness, from which all the other things will be added.

As we remain faithful toward God's priorities, we need not be diverted into worldly cares that can deprive us of the victory that should accompany material gain otherwise. As Isaiah has prophesied, God's blessings are designed to lead ultimately to peace of mind that flows like a river, and a righteousness that flows like the waves of the sea.

God's purpose in blessing us is that we reap our harvest blessing with songs of joy. If we fail to remain obedient, then life's usual adversities and temptations could deprive us of that joy.

At the moment that we overcome the world's obstacles and gain any tangible benefit, the first order of business is to dedicate our harvest to the same Lord who provided our victory. This small gesture confirms our commitment to God's system of provident reciprocity, which we must then extend to others having the same needs as our own. Ultimately, God's word is self-sustaining.