VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON
A TIME FOR PLANTING
by Pastor Mark Taylor
“But this I say, those who sow sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and those who sow bountifully shall reap also bountifully."
(2 Corinthians 9:6)
Following the turbulence of winter comes the season of activity and opportunity called springtime. It is the season for entering the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment, and a determined effort.
Spring does not care if you sow or sleep, nor does it care if you plant abundantly or sparingly. God has given you the wisdom to rise from your comfortable chair and enter the fields at the right season.
The springtime in your life offers you the opportunity to enroll in a class, to have the courage to change either an occupation or residence, or perhaps even to change your mind about something or someone.
Springtime can enter your life when ever you are ready, but timing is important. Do not allow springtime to pass while you sit idly by and others are planting their seeds.
To take full advantage of the spring in your life, you must begin to rid your soil of the weeds and rocks of worry, doubt, or pessimism. It is the fertilizer of faith and enthusiasm that will overcome the worst forms of weeds. The Lord allows flowers to start over every spring and he will allow the same for you:
“And why take thought for clothes? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 KJV)
Plant more seeds this year. If you gave a small amount of money to the work of the Lord last year, give more this year. If you attended church only a few times last year, attend more this year. If you gave a small amount of your time last year ministering, give more time this year to the Lord. If you spent a small amount of time and effort in helping your church, invest more this year.
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26) Faith provides us with a multiple reward. For each cup planted, a bushel is reaped, for every good idea given to another, many shall be given to us in return, for every act of kindness and love, a life of love will be returned, for each seed of encouragement given to another, encouragement will be given.
A kernel of corn produces its own kind. A seed of doubt, or fear, or distrust place in the mind also produces after its own kind. The price, or effort of thinking thoughts of love, prosperity, or self-confidence takes no more effort than to think thoughts of hate, poverty, or self doubt. Only the rewards are different.
Springtime says “Here I Am!”. I will provide the warm weather and the fertile fields, but you will have to decide if you are going to plant or not, and what you will plant. The act of planting during the spring requires that we exert effort and discipline.
Each day is given to us as a new season of spring. The thoughts, deeds, dreams, and efforts of today will provide tomorrow’s harvest. To neglect the opportunity given to us this day is to delay our better harvest tomorrow. There will be no better day, no better opportunity, no better springtime, no better time to begin than the current moment. Life is truly a constant beginning, a constant opportunity, a constant springtime. We need to have the faith of a child.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all people, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
