God Is Waiting for You to Plant a Seed

Current Teaching Series Financial Fitness

God Is Waiting for You to Plant a Seed Rick Warren — July 18, 2018 "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:24 NIV). What does a farmer do when he's got a barren field that's producing no income? He doesn't complain about it. He doesn't even have to pray about it! He just goes out and starts planting some seed, because nothing is going to happen until he plants the seed. He can pray all he wants, but it's not going to produce a crop. He's got to plant some seed. Maybe you think you're waiting on God. You think you're waiting on God for that job. You think you're waiting on God for a spouse. You think you're waiting on God for the windfall. God says, "You think you're waiting on me? I'm waiting on you! I'm waiting for you to plant a seed." Everything in life starts as a seed: a relationship, a marriage, a business, a church. And nothing happens until the seed is planted. Why does God require us to plant a seed? Because planting is an act of faith. You take what you've got, and you give it away. That takes an act of faith! And it brings glory to God. Jesus described this principle of sowing and reaping when he was trying to explain why he came to Earth to die on the cross. In John 12:24 Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (NIV). Jesus was saying, "People will be saved and go to heaven because of my death and Resurrection. I'm going to plant a seed, and the seed is going to be my life." Here's the principle of sowing and reaping: Whenever you have a need, you plant a seed. Whatever it is you need — more time, more energy, more money, more support, more relationships, more wisdom — just plant a seed. If you need more time, give more time to your kids. If you need more money, give it away to someone who needs it. If you need more wisdom, share what wisdom you have with others. Give yourself away! It may not make sense to you to give away something that you need more of, but that is exactly the kind of attitude that God wants to bless and that will produce fruit in your life. When you have a need, don't gripe about it, don't wish about it, and you don't even have to pray about it — just plant a seed!PLAY today's audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It What need have you been waiting on God to provide? What do you think God might be waiting on you to do about that need? What seed can you plant today? What kind of effects do you see in yourself and others when you plant a seed and give of yourself? How is God building your character through this?

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Series Summary Session 1: The Foundation of Financial Health Session 2: The Law of Contentment Session 3: The Law of Sowing and Reaping Session 4: Habits of Financial Health Session 5: Where Best to Invest PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He's the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered around the world. This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences | Unsubscribe