BEN F. VICK, JR.
In making application of the parable of the sower, Jesus Christ said, "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." (Luke 8:11.) The Son of God often compared the kingdom of heaven to the sowing of seed (Matt. 13:24-30; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 8: 4-15.) The people of his day were familiar with the illustration of sowing and reaping. Perhaps, as they listened, they could see a man sowing seed on a distant Galilean hillside.
As one studies the New Testament, he sees the early church sowing the kingdom's precious seed. Luke tells us, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:4.) Paul asks and answers, in Romans 10:18, saying, "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and the words unto the ends of the world." In giving the great commission, Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15–16.) Paul wrote about thirty years later, "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." (Col.1:23.) That does not necessarily mean every person heard the truth. The American Standard of 1901 shows that the gospel went to the whole creation. "It renders the verse this way: "if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister." (Col.1:23.)
It is the seed of the kingdom that must be planted into the hearts of men and women, girls and boys, if a crop is to be harvested for the Lord one day. Peter wrote, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:22–23.) The theories, gimmicks, and commands of men will not purify the soul. It is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation. Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom. 1:16.)
The Preacher said, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. (Ecc. 3:1–2.) The same is true with sowing the seed of the kingdom. There is a time to sow the word of God and a time to refrain from the same.
Maybe the time of sowing was the intent of the songwriter, Fred Fillmore, when he penned the lyrics of "Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom." Briefly, let us consider his words.
The first line inquires, "Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother, in the morning bright and fair?" If the song's day and night relate to the time in our lives, then think with me for a few minutes along this line. The morning of one's life may well mean when one is young. Sometimes young people are hesitant to teach others the gospel or invite their friends to worship with them. But the fact that one is young in no wise excuses him of his responsibility to sow the seed. Ecclesiastes's writer also said, "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…." (Ecc. 12:1.) Sometimes one's friends are more likely to be influenced by one of their age than those who are older. Besides, a young person has more influence over his friends than perhaps others. If "morning" in the song refers to being young spiritually, the lesson is still applicable. All have the responsibility to spread the good tidings.
The song continues by asking if we are sowing in "the heat of the noonday's glare" or in "the still and solemn night." If these expressions apply to middle age and old age, the lesson is still the same. Many excuses might be trumped up for those of middle age by saying, "Well, I've got a family to rear," or, "my job does not allow time for spiritual matters." But none of these excuses nor others will stand in the final day when we all appear before him who said, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33.)
Sometimes those who have the greater part of their lives behind them may think they can leave the sowing to others. It may be in their retirement they live for themselves, not the Lord. However, whether one is in bloom of youth or of hoary head, the responsibility remains that one must sow the seed of the kingdom. I remind us all that no one can do our sowing for us. Each must do his part. Someone says, "Well, that's why we pay the preacher." Keep in mind that they who were scattered abroad went everywhere telling the good news (Acts 8:4). It was not just the apostles or preachers who were teaching others. We are saved to save others. There can be no retired spiritual farmers in the Lord's vineyard.
It stands to reason that if we sow enough seed, a good harvest will come. Paul wrote, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." (2 Cor. 9:6.) Brethren, let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." (Gal. 6:9.) Sometimes there are difficulties in sowing, but we must persevere. The Psalmist penned, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psa. 126:5–6.)
My dear brother or sister, are we working as hard in sowing the seed of the kingdom as we do in other endeavors? Let us instill the word of God into the hearts of others. May each of us make opportunities to sow the word of God this week.