Plant Good Seeds

Anyone who has farmed or raised a garden knows the thrill that comes from planting seeds, watching them germinate, caring for the plants and then enjoying the tasty produce or beautiful flowers. There are other ways — ways we may not realize — in which we plant seeds that also bear fruit. Matthew 13 shows Satan to be a sower of seeds as well. He sows worthless tares in the grain field where God has sown good seed (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). For the most part, Satan does his sowing by broadcasting negative thoughts and attitudes through the air. But sometimes, he uses human helpers. By moving someone to make a negative statement around others, Satan can plant a thought that can grow and grow until it chokes a person's spiritual growth. Every one of God's people has had to fight bad attitudes and resist negative feelings at times of discouragement or trials. During these spiritual battles, it's easy to slip and say the wrong thing around others. Our words — even offhand remarks — can have a greater impact than we realize. Maybe our statements hit other people when they are weak. Their minds are fertile for the seeds to sprout and grow. Human nature being what it is (Jeremiah 17:9), there is a certain amount of vain satisfaction in sharing tidbits of information with others — even derogatory remarks about friends, relatives, fellow employees. "Have you heard?" "Did you know?" "Guess what happened?"  What might conversations such as these do to the dedication or spiritual strength of another? Are you often in a pessimistic frame of mind, spewing negative comments to everyone to whom you talk? Perhaps you don't mean for your remarks to be taken seriously. Maybe you think about conversations later and repent of what you said. But that doesn't erase the thoughts you have planted in another person's mind. Such statements can destroy optimism and peace of mind in others. Christ said, "Woe to that man by whom the offense comes!" (Matthew 18:7). It is better that such communication never takes place. Just as sowing bad seeds can yield bad fruit, so planting the right kind of seed can produce good fruit. The apostle Paul tells us we should "comfort each other and edify one another" (I Thessalonians 5:11). To edify means to build up. Much building up and encouraging can take place in our conversations with each other. Some people are just a joy to be around. They exude hope, faith and optimism and you feel up lifted after being around them. Are you this kind of person? "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:25, Authorized Version). Such a positive attitude plants good seed among others. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29). We all can become sowers of good seed by letting God's Spirit, with all its positive fruits (Galatians 5:22-23), guide us in all our conversations. Ask God to bless your conversations with others and help you be more aware of how what you say affects others. A person surely increases his future reward in God's Kingdom when he sows good seed among others, helping them along toward their goal of eternal life. What a powerful and lasting effect our comments to others can have. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit" (Proverbs 18:21). Our words produce either death or life. Which will it be?