18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23

The key of course to this parable is to toss out seeds on good, fertile soil. How can we be sure the soil is fertile? Partially you have to pick it up and examine it. Are there rocks and weeds in it? Is it clay or good growing soil?

Good farmers already know their land. They know which crops grow best and when to plant. The good farmers will also know when to water, when to harvest, and when to rest from all the work. The seeds planted on good soil will take root, grow, and be healthy at harvest time.

What is the spiritual truth related to this parable? As I said a few days ago, “Our job as Christians is to plant lots of spiritual seeds. That’s it.”

We don’t have control over the harvest at all. We do have control over how and where our seeds are thrown, or if we throw any seeds at all.

We read passages like this and think, “Yes I know this to be absolutely true” but rarely do anything about it. I think we’re all guilty of it.

Why the apathy?

Why the lackadaisical attitude?

Farming in general takes a lot of work and patience, but what we don’t seem to understand is that we don’t have to be full-time committed farmers.

We can easily be do-it-yourselfers when it comes to tossing seeds.

Here’s what I mean.

If you search on the internet for DIY gardeners or farmers, you’ll see thousands of videos on how to plant and raise one crop, how to do it in a balcony in the city, how to farm with just water, and how to do it with little to no experience. The list of ideas of what people are doing in the farming niche is endless.

The point is we don’t have to do it all.

We don’t have to quit our jobs to farm.

We don’t have to travel overseas to farm.

We don’t have to buy fancy or expensive equipment to farm.

God will use us if we let Him.

He just needs for us to be available and open.

Then when the opportunities come, we can throw out our seeds and ask God to bless what was tossed out.