Read: Galatians 6:8  |

Last week we started, a six-part series entitled “Giving is Sowing”. During the series we will examine the steps involved in sowing our time, talent and treasure. As a backdrop, we are using the metaphor that Paul established for sowing to please the Spirit. As believers, we are born again to be producers – producers of new believers – for this pleases the Spirit. Yet, too often, we take the easy route and simply “sit” at Church and become consumers.

To refresh our memory, let me make it plain. In a Church setting, a producer works to plant and sow for God as directed by his Hand. They typically serve in a ministry as an usher, deacon, teacher,… etc. A consumer on the other hand is usually different. Consumers go to church, but have a tendency to avoid ministry or service opportunities with vague rationale. Thus, they end up reaping the benefits of work the producers have planted. At home, a producer is looking for opportunities to do God’s will, whereas a consumer puts their will and understanding ahead God’s will. Producers allow God to point out the location to sow.

With that as background, let us understand the timing of when to sow.
In nature, certain plants can be planted year-round whereas others must only be planted under certain conditions and in particular environments. Spiritually, it works the same way. Our all-knowing God will prompt and prod our heart when it is time to sow the specific seed He wants. By following His prompt, the seed will not fall on fallow ground.

God sends clear messages to believers when it is time to give. The key to hearing Him is listening for His voice. We can cheat God when we know He has put it on our hearts to give of our time, talent or treasure and yet we withhold it for reasons we think are important. Personally, over time I have grown. I have learned repeatedly that God is all-knowing and that my limited thinking cannot comprehend what He can do with the little He is asking of me.

In order to avoid this mistake, our heart and mind should be in alignment and in order with God. We need to resist the temptation to hold back and not plant the seed that God is asking.

The litmus test for each of us is to walk this Christian walk expectantly and not hesitantly. We walk it expectantly, if we are looking for signs and opportunities to sow what God has given us. We walk hesitantly if we feel God move, but we rely on our will and not His. Worse still, maybe we do not even hear Him or feel Him move our heart.

Our job description and the last verbal command was the Great Commission, “Go ye therefore…”. (Matthew 28:19,20). To be purposely redundant, we are producers. Producers look for the opportunity to plant. They look forward to the harvest.

Today, determine and pray that we can eliminate any consumer-like tendencies in us and that we become producers by giving where and when God directs.