Lessons on Zealous Living Learned in the Garden! Part 2

Scientifically, regarding plants, a seed is a reproductive body formed in the ovule of flowering plants, or angiosperms, as well as some other plants in the gymnosperm families. Pollination fertilizes the egg cells, or the ovule. The result is the maturing of a seed, a miniature undeveloped plant awaiting germination. The seed allows the plant to reproduce itself in nature. God designed plants in this way from the beginning and declared so on the third day of creation.

In four of his parables, Jesus used seeds to teach lessons to his disciples: the Parable of the Sower (Matt. 13:3–9); the Parable of Seed and Weeds (Matt. 13:24–30); the Parable of the Seed Growing (Mark 4:26–29); and the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–32). We will briefly look at each parable, so make sure you continue reading.

We looked at the Parable of the Sower last week. We really should call it “the Parable of the Soils.” That is what Jesus was really talking about. Remember, He gave us four different soils that receive exactly the same seed. The soils refer to how different people will hear and receive the seed. What is the “seed” they are to hear and receive? The “seed” is the “Word” of the Kingdom of God or the gospel message. Jesus and His disciples sowed that seed broadly, and they (the people) heard it in different ways. Some people (soils) heard, received, and bore fruit; and some did not.

The Parable of the Seeds and Weeds refers to two different seeds sown by two different individuals, a farmer and his enemy. The two seeds are wheat and weeds. We will deal more with this parable in our next article on Lessons from Weeds. The one thing that is important for us to note here is that there are good seeds and evil seeds. In gardening, as in life, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference until they have both fully matured. Be careful as you manage your garden that you don’t remove the good with the bad.

The mystery of life is at the heart of this parable. The sower plants the seed, cares for it, waters it, but in the end, it is God who makes it grow. Our sower goes about life, sleeping and rising, sleeping and rising, in a continuous fashion. Until harvest, his job, for the most part, is done. The planter can only plant the seed. He cannot manufacture germination or growth.

God is the one who is at work, even after our work is done. God is always at work, apart from our human efforts. God cultivates the seed of the Word to bring about the growth and expansion of His kingdom. God gives us the honor and privilege to be the sower of His Word in the souls of other people. Always remember that it is God alone who saves. That is not our work, we are but simple farmers in His vast field. So spread the seed of His word broadly and continuously, then watch Him work.

The many mentions of seeds in the Old Testament all point in the same direction. They point to Jesus Christ, who is the seed of God from which the Kingdom of God will sprout and develop into a powerful, everlasting tree of life, full of peace and rest. Kind of like that mustard seed, eh? What a great thought!

The tree of life was found in the center of the Garden of Eden at the beginning of Scripture ( Genesis 2:9 ). At the end of Scripture, the tree of life is found in the Revelation of John growing on two sides of the river of life which flows from the throne of God and His Lamb, providing healing for the nations ( Revelation 22:1-2 ). 

That is a hope that you can get zealous about! Go sow that zealous seed in the lives of your children, your family, and your friends as you meditate on lessons learned from seeds. Go get your zealous on!