Sowing Seed
A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7b-8
What kind of seed are you sowing?
The CEO of a very successful corporation was beginning the process of succession planning and selecting the next leader of his firm. But instead of forming an executive search committee or selecting the most senior Vice President to replace him, the CEO wanted to do something a bit unorthodox.
The CEO called a meeting of all the company’s Vice Presidents and Divisional Directors. With all the leaders in the room, he announced the impending change. “It’s time for a new leader to carry us into the next phase of growth,” he said. “And it will be someone in this room.” Glances and whispers were exchanged around the boardroom. The CEO began to explain his unique selection plan. He pulled a small bag from his suit pocket.
“In this bag are seeds. I’m giving each of you a seed today. Only one seed—a very special seed. Over the next twelve months, your charge is to care for this seed. You are to plant it, water it, and nurture it over the course of the year. Exactly a year from now we’ll reconvene and each of you will present what you’ve done with your seed. Then I will judge your plants and reveal who our next CEO is.”
Bewilderment but also excitement filled the room as each leader received their seed and departed the meeting. James received his seed with the others in the group, put it in his pocket, and took it home.
At home James got a pot, potting soil, and fertilizer. He planted his seed, set it by the window, and watered it daily, watching each day for growth.
A month passed. No growth. James didn’t think too much of it, until he heard some of the other business leaders talking about how nicely their plants were growing.
Two months. Nothing. Three months. No plant. Six months. Dirt in a pot.
James felt like an absolute failure. He was certain he had killed the seed. Perhaps he scorched it in the sun? Or gave it too much fertilizer? Or not enough water? He wasn’t much of a gardener.
At the office, his colleagues kept chatting about their plant’s progress. James kept quiet, knowing humiliation was surely on the horizon.
Finally the fateful day had come. At first, James decided he couldn’t possibly bring an empty pot with a dead seed into the CEO’s selection meeting. He lay awake wrestling with what he should do. But finally he decided that he had to be honest about what happened. He was certain it would be the most embarrassing moment of his life and career.
The boardroom was filled with amazing, beautiful, and exotic plants of all sizes and colors. Sheepishly, James held his empty pot. The stares of his colleagues seemed to express both mockery and pity toward his bare soil. His heart began to race as the CEO entered the room.
Scanning the room, the CEO began to speak. “My, what great plants you’ve grown!” He began to stroll the room, studying the array of botanical variety.
Then he spotted James. Empty pot and all.
“James, what happened to your seed?”
He wanted to melt. But instead he told the simple truth of his failure to grow the seed. He prayed that he wouldn’t get fired. The CEO paused. Then he asked James to stand up.
“Ladies and gentlemen….please welcome your new Chief Executive Officer! ”
Puzzled looks and silence dominated the room. James was floored. The CEO began to explain.
“Twelve months ago I gave you all a seed to plant, water, care for, and to bring back. But I gave you all boiled seeds. They were all dead—it was impossible for them to grow. James was the only one here with the courage and integrity to bring me a pot with the original seed in it. Therefore, he is the one I trust to lead our company.”
Galatians chapter 6 reminds us of a simple, yet profound, truth we often lose sight of:
“A man reaps what he sows.”
And the type of seed we sow matters greatly.
“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Plant seeds of selfishness, and you will reap distrust. Plant seeds of pride, and you will reap arrogance. Plant seeds of ruthlessness, and you will reap pain. Plant seeds of immorality, and you will reap ruin.
But plant seeds of dedication, and you will reap success. Plant seeds of perseverance, and you will reap character. Plant seeds of honesty, and you will reap trust. Plant seeds of forgiveness, and you will reap unity. Plant seeds of humility, and you will reap honor.
What kind of seed are you sowing?
Today, be cognizant to the type of seed you are sowing in the “fields” of your life—your family, your workplace, your community, your church, and more. The type of seed we sow matters greatly. You WILL see the fruit of the seeds you’re planting in the future—whether that’s on Earth or for all eternity! Will you be pleased with what you’ve planted?
