2 Corinthians 9:10 “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer
and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your
resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
Protecting Your Harvest:
You have planted your seed; you’ve given your offering. You have expectations of a harvest from your seed. So now it’s all in God’s hands and your responsibility is over, right? No way. The offering is not the end; in fact it is probably more of a beginning. As we see in Paul’s writing to the Church at Corinth, it is God’s desire to see a continual harvest of generosity in our lives.
He gives us the seed so that living open-handed becomes a lifestyle rather than an event. It is important to Him for us to receive the intended harvest so we can truly live generously.

Most of us know the Parable of the Sower from the Gospels. In it, Jesus explains how the key to Kingdom harvest is our hearts, our souls. The parable is also a practical look at effective sowing and reaping. Let’s look at some tips from Jesus on making sure your seed produces a harvest.

o Key Thought #1: Matthew 13:4 “As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them.”
The birds are eating the seed on the path. The birds represent our enemy-satan and the forces of darkness, and the path represents the choices we make. Our harvest is dependent on protecting our thoughts. As we walk our “path” we will encounter “crossroads” where choices are made. It is here where our enemy seeks to steal our seed. Our choices cannot be driven by fear, doubt or unbelief. They must be a response to God’s Word. Protect your seed by speaking the Word over it. When wrong thinking comes—thoughts like “I should not have given” or “I could have used that money somewhere else”—immediately respond with God’s promises. Note that when Jesus was tempted by satan in the wilderness there is no gap, no hesitation, between satan’s words toward Him and His response with God’s Word. Stay on the path to a full harvest by filling your soul with God’s promises concerning you and your harvest.

o Key Thought #2: Matthew 13:5-6 “Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.”
Here, Jesus lets us know that our seed will be attacked and the key to victory is deep roots. In Ephesians 3:17 Paul tells us that sinking our roots deep into God’s love will release the power of Christ in our faith. In Colossians 2:7, Paul teaches us that thanksgiving is how we become firmly established. In the “heat” of the attack—negative thoughts, fear, doubt or unbelief—sink your roots deep by giving thanks to God for His unconditional love towards us. Fill your heart and your mouth with His praise. In Leviticus 19:19, God warns us that planting two types of seed in the same field will destroy the harvest. When we live with an attitude of gratitude, we keep the negative seeds of doubt, fear and unbelief from messing up the good seed in our field.

o Key Thought #3: Matthew 13:7 “Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants.” Jesus describes the thorns as allowing things to become complicated by the worries and concerns of this world. In Jeremiah 4:3, the Lord warns us that these complications will harden our hearts and choke our harvest.
So how do we keep it simple—
o First, remember a seed cannot produce unless it dies. Release your ownership of the seed. It never was ours to begin with, but we sometimes take ownership of it with our thoughts. It was God’s before you had it, it was God’s when you had it, and it is God’s now that you have planted it. Don’t dig it up by taking ownership of it with worry. Don’t allow complications—bills, unforeseen circumstances, etc.—to birth worry and concern that will dig up the seed. Thank Him for being trustworthy. Remember His promise of a guaranteed harvest. Galatians 6:9 “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
o Second, stay focused. You were focused with the seed. Be focused with the harvest. God’s defined harvest is generosity. Keep finding ways to be generous. When you receive harvest, use it to position yourself for greater generosity. Don’t just spend it thoughtlessly. Be as thoughtful with the harvest as you were with the seed. Give generously, pay off debt. Put yourself in a place where God can pour more harvest through you to advance His Kingdom!

o Key Thought #4: Matthew 13:8 “Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Jesus is challenging us to think in Kingdom realms. Think bigger, expect bigger. Our God wants to release a harvest in us and through us that is bigger than we can ask or think. Train yourself to be fertile, rich soil by thinking God-sized thoughts. Pray expectantly, speak expectantly, plan expectantly. Don’t settle for a minimal harvest. Our God is faithful and our enemy is on the prowl for unprotected and unclaimed harvest. Live by faith. Challenge yourself daily by believing and confessing greatness. Jesus plainly states here that we should not only be expecting a harvest, but that we should be expecting big!