1 Corinthians 3:6 Be a seed planter (sower)

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”

1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

I was reading some fascinating facts about the bamboo plant. It takes five years for the bamboo plant to mature. You can hardly see any “above ground” activity during the first two to four years. Yet “underground” there is an extensive root system developing. Once one can see the benefit of its hidden activity, it becomes the fastest growing plant there is. After about five whole years, the bamboo plant sends stalks growing skyward at an unbelievable three feet per day! Imagine that!

We can learn something from the bamboo plant. When serving our Lord, we are seldom allowed to see the true impact that we are having in our obedience to plant seeds. If we were serving Him and could see for ourselves the impact of every seed that we plant, we may become prideful and puffed up. We may focus on what we have achieved instead of the One whom we are living for and serving. Another thing that is worthy for us to note is that we wouldn’t be operating in faith, believing what we can’t always see. Like the bamboo plant, most of our spiritual growth and fruits from our labor often go unseen. Only our Father above fully understands the impact of our obeying the Spirits leading in all the aspects of our lives that He is asking us to. Oftentimes the growth from these seeds aren’t revealed until years later, sometimes even generations later. Planting seeds and serving the Lord faithfully can be so joyful, even fun. And our time of seed planting is worth more than anything else that we do in this life, even if we seldom witness the skyrocketing growth as a result of our obedience. Plant all the seeds that you can. Be a seed planter. Believe that someone else will come along and water those seeds afterwards. Ask God for this. And then sit back and watch for God is working below the ground, an extensive root system is developing. In His time, He will cause the seeds that He had led you to plant to sprout up above the ground and grow at an unbelievable rate daily.

Father, may I plant all the seeds that You want me to. May You send someone else to come along and water those seeds. And may You cause them to grow. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.