Seedtime and Harvest (Genesis 8:22)

Seed time and harvest is an enduring principle established by God in Genesis 8:22. I’ve experienced this phenomenon, and I’m sure you have. I recall planting little seeds in Dixie Cups in grade school. Amazingly a few days later a little green shoot would pop up!

Additionally, I was raised on a farm. We planted field corn in the spring and harvested it in the fall.

Seedtime and harvest go much deeper than planting seeds and reaping a harvest. Many different types of things can be sown, some of which are intangible. For example, seeds of diligence and laziness can be planted.

Genesis 8:22 (ESV) While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.

God affirms that seed time and harvest will persist as long as the earth remains. However, it’s crucial to distinguish between the genuine biblical principle and the distorted interpretations propagated by some.

The Prosperity Gospel — Sowing Seeds

Unfortunately, a subset of the church has twisted the concept of seedtime and harvest into a prosperity doctrine, suggesting that charitable giving guarantees a financial windfall. This misinterpretation has led to the exploitation of believers through false promises of wealth.

Here’s an informative article about the Lies of the Prosperity Gospel.

Galatians 6:7-9 (ESV) Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap if we do not give up.

The Law of Seedtime and Harvest Is Positive

We reap what we sow. God designed seeds to replicate in kind. Tomato seeds produce tomato plants.

Genesis 1:12 (NIV) The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Sowing kindness reaps kindness. We might not reap where it’s been sown but God ensures we will reap. When diligence is sown rewards will eventually be reaped.

Seedtime and Harvest — A Negative Law

When people sow what they don’t want, they reap it anyway. Lazy people typically reap bad harvests. Goofing around at work typically results in job loss, no raises, and poor reviews. Workers never see this as justice, but it often is. Plus, we often get repaid double for our troublesome behavior.

Hosea 8:7 (NIV) They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.

We can choose our actions but do not get to choose the consequences of our actions.

When bad seeds are sown, an even worse harvest is reaped.

The Law of Seedtime and Harvest Involves Multiplication

The return on seed is not one-for-one. A tomato seed might produce 3-5 tomatoes and another 30-50 seeds for future planting. Going to work daily, adding value, and playing nicely in the sandbox is rewarded with more than a paycheck. Those who fail to see that future harvest of opportunity have a miserable life.

The seed’s potential has multiplicative power. Think beyond your paycheck for employee benefits.

Our retirement savings double about every 7-8 years, and they’ve grown well beyond what we’ve invested.

We always reap more than we sow.

Seedtime and Harvest — A Diverse Law

What one sows and reaps is unlimited. We’ve planted trees in our yard, flowers, and vegetables.

We’re sowing goodness, kindness, grace, humility, and servanthood.

Financially, we are sowing into stocks, bonds, savings accounts, side hustles, and more.

What type of seedtime and harvest plan are you following? Many plans work — when they are executed. Working, going home, eating supper, and watching TV every evening is a failing plan. Those are bad seeds germinating for an even worse harvest.

During my early Christian years, I followed a plan that indicated that unlimited prosperity was possible for all Christians. All I had to do was give a set percentage of my income, regularly give large offerings, and be precise with my words. If that didn’t work, then I didn’t have enough faith.

Regrettably, hundreds of thousands of Christians still blindly follow that plan.

Practice Fearless Generosity

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.