Letters: The Principles of Seed Sowing

Dear Friend,

NB: Read to the end! It is very important, even if some part bores you, abeg.

1 “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 

18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew chapter 13 vs 1 to 8, 18 to 23.

In life, there are principles for everything: the principle of prosperity, successful marriages, a successful and purposeful life, etcetera. One of the most prominent principles of marriage is the principle of giving, or the act of giving.

How then does this principle, or how does giving, corroborate with the bible passage I wrote above? Stay with me.

Back then, as little children, they told us that givers never lack; people still believe this today. In many religious establishments, there’s what’s called ‘sowing of seeds’. All na giving, right? They often tell people to give, even in non-religious practices…

Giving is actually a principle of prosperity, but what they don’t often tell you is that for that principle or law to actualize, you have to be intentional about it.

There’s this post I once saw online about giving: “If every emotional story makes you dip your hands in your pocket, the next emotional story that would be heard is yours.” Does that mean selective giving? No. It means intentional giving.

Back to our bible verse, and apologies if I tend to use bible verse too much, I recently realized that it has deeper meanings and applications that we were taught, meanings that affect our lives, to me, it is more of a life guide or manual for life and all that we wish to get out of it than a spiritual book; with all sincere apologies to the Christians here if me calling the bible less spiritual is quite offensive. Also, I take lessons from literally anywhere as long as it is teachable. I read Islamic books too, just that they are not that commonly available in English.

Now, away from my caveat, and back to my bible verse, how does giving correlate with the parable of the sower? I think it's about giving, which is why I saw correlation where the majority didn’t, despite the fact that I was taught in a similar way with others; they told us, while interpreting that verse, that it was speaking of the word of God and different types of people who listen to it…

In the parable, the seeds fell in different places, some among thorns, some in rocky places, others along the road path, and some fell on good soil...

The sower simply represents you and me; the seeds, as they say, are what we give. Now, where they fall is in the mannerisms and the situations surrounding our giving.

Givers don’t lack, givers don’t lack! Know where you distribute your seeds.

Some distribute their seeds on irrelevant things and wonder why their lives are stagnant.

Let me ask you, where do you invest your currencies? Your money, energy, attention, time, integrity, etc? where?

You have to be intentional about these things. Do you finish your currencies on women and drinks? That’s for men.

Do you burn your resources trying to look good? Women.

Do you spend the majority of your resources in church? There are people who are always in church that they forget that there are more important things. Debate with me all you wish, but unless you have DEDICATED your life to the church, what are you doing there 24/7?

Once upon a time, I was always in church for most of the day, especially on Sundays. Every day of the week, but when I realized that my path isn’t tied to church, I cut it down; now I spend a little above 2 hours in church every week, just on Sundays.

I have tutorials, I have classes, I have gigs, I have books to read, I have things to do, so why should I be there? Everyone’s path is different, so if going to church, parties, and clubs, or spending all your money there, works for you, no issues. But, do you know your farmland? The sower in the parable was simply experimenting with different farmlands: rocks, thorns, road paths, fertile soil, and he found his own fertility region, but life is too short to spend a substantial amount of it experimenting (remember it’s a parable); before you know it, you are out of your prime.

Understand what you want.

One thing I learned from philanthropists is that they are very intentional givers; you see them building schools, hospitals, and granting aid and scholarships to people, and you assume they have too much money; no, it’s not. They are intentional givers. They give and get back in return; most of the time, it’s not in the form they gave that they receive.

ORGANIZE YOUR SEEDS! Remember, until you affect the heart, do not expect from the hand.

I should stop here.

PS: I intentionally included the meaning from verses 18 to 23 to show that the meaning they taught you in church is not redundant. No be me una go stone like Stephen. But if you have a connective mind that recognizes patterns, you’d still see the correlation therein. I was simply showing you guys a different perspective on it.

Love and light! 

Rooting for you, and I trust you too are rooting for me.

Best Regards,

Joseph Chisom Ofonagoro.

Till I write next, Goodbye!