Sowing Seed
“He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who works all things. Sow your seed in the morning and do not put your hands down in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.”
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 LSB
You may have heard that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the second best time is now. For many of us, we end up waiting another twenty years as we continue to look for the “perfect time” to plant, and even then, still decide not to plant the tree. Whether it’s financial investments, big family decisions, or literally planting a tree, we often get hung up on our circumstances and never actually do the work. We can make excuses, or we can plant. It really is that simple.
The wisdom of God, as revealed through Scripture, offers us the best advice for all of life. Such advice tells us not to let the wind or clouds prevent us from carrying out our obligation to sow seeds and harvest. If nothing is done until all difficulties are removed, nothing good will ever be done. Common sense tells us that without the sowing of seeds, there can be no harvest. The direction of the wind and amount of rain coming from a cloud may affect our work of scattering seed, but they are beyond our control. Therefore, this should not stop us from sowing. The same is true for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ to those around us. Consider Jesus’ parable of the sower: the seed is the Gospel and we are the sowers. Though seeds may fall on different soils, the outcome ultimately belongs to God. That should both humble us and give us relief. We don’t have to look to the wind or the clouds, but only to the One who directs them and is sovereign above them all.
If you’ve been putting off what you know you ought to be doing, make today the day you “plant the tree.” Obey God and plant in faith, according to His wisdom and counsel. The outcome ultimately belongs to Him.
