Seed Time & Harvest | Kingdom Mathematics

Throughout the Word we learn about the importance of sowing seed and harvesting the crop of that seed—both physically and spiritually. Yet, many Believers fail to walk in this principle, often expecting a harvest without ever planting seed.

Join us to discover why we, as Believers, need to plant seed to multiply it into a harvest, and how this can align us with God’s Kingdom mathematics!

Seasons

From the Old Testament to the New we discover that there are seasons: times to plant and times to harvest the crop of that planting. 

Most of us can quote at least the first portion of Ecclesiastes 3, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:” but often we only use this Scripture as a source of comfort when we are in a difficult season. And while yes, it certainly can be used as a restoration of hope which in turn brings comfort… there is more to it than that.

There is the reminder that God put in place seed time and harvest time. That we are called to plant as well as to harvest. And that it is often through giving—sowing seed—that we open the way to receive, and to reap a harvest.

Why Do Believers Need to Plant Seed?

Luke 6:38 gives us a key to Kingdom mathematics…

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

—Luke 6:38

This Scripture tells us that by giving—planting seed—we are creating the measure by which we will receive; by which we reap a harvest. And this principle is necessary in all areas of Kingdom living.

No matter if it is emotional, financial, physical, or spiritual… we are meant, even called, to plant seed. And as a result of that planted seed, we are also called to be harvesters. But while often we receive both the task of planting and harvesting, sometimes God gives us the task to plant seed somewhere and let someone else harvest it, or to harvest what someone else planted…

One way this demonstrates itself is in the bringing of new Believers into God’s Kingdom. Sometimes someone will plant the seed of salvation, and then days, months, or years later, something will happen to germinate that seed, opening the way for another person to bring in God’s harvest. Yet, quite often in the Kingdom principle of seed time and harvest time, we are blessed to plant a seed, watch it grow, and then go a step further to harvest it…

This is often seen when we are being obedient to plant a seed of what we ourselves need for the Kingdom call God has placed on our lives. And when the time is right, this obedience to plant a seed allows us to enjoy the fruits of that planting with a harvest of 30, 60, or even 100 times greater than what was planted! 

Yet, whether we are called to plant or harvest, God’s Kingdom principle… the Kingdom mathematics of multiplication… remains the same.

And as Believers, called to be like our Abba—our Father—we are meant to bring abundance through seed time and harvest time! Through the multiplication of seed for God’s Kingdom purposes!

The Math of Planting and Harvesting

No matter if we are discussing finances or faith, there is a principle of planting and harvesting. Of seed and crop. Of Kingdom mathematics…

But how does Kingdom mathematics work in our daily walk? How can we learn this ‘new’ math?

Well, one way we can look at it is like this:

Seed is an investment in God’s Kingdom. It is putting something into a place where it can germinate and then grow.

Harvest is therefore the collection of that investment. Taking the matured, multiplied investment and putting it into active use in God’s Kingdom. Furthering His Kingdom.

When we look at planting seed and harvesting in this way, we begin to understand what purpose there is for us to plant seed. But it also demonstrates why it truly matters WHAT seed we plant and WHERE we plant it. Because just like there are good and bad investments in the world’s financial system, there are good and bad investments in God’s Kingdom principle of seed time and harvest time—of the Kingdom mathematics of multiplication. 

We need to be sure that we plant good seed and not bad. We need to be sure that we are sowing with the right attitude of ‘heart’ and that the seed itself is of good quality. Likewise, we need to be sure that we are planting in good soil and not bad—listening to the Spirit’s instruction on where to sow, aligning our will to God’s and not simply sowing into the soil we want or that is most convenient. 

And for both seed and soil it requires Godly wisdom to understand the difference if we want not only a harvest, but an abundant one!

Planting | Godly Wisdom and Seed

Through prayer, the Holy Spirit in us, and of course Godly wisdom, we can understand what seed to plant, when to plant, and where to plant. No matter if it is a financial seed, the seed of a kind word, or the seed of a prophetic word… every seed has a purpose, a time and season, a place to be planted, to produce a unique crop multiplied 30, 60, or even 100-fold of what was planted. Like the person who hears, understands, and applies God’s Word…

“But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

—Matthew 13:23

The key to the Kingdom mathematics of 100-fold multiplication is God. When we are listening to His will and then walking out in obedience. Planting what He desires us to plant, at the place where He leads us, and in HIS timing…

This is far from legalism. It is smart planting. It is Kingdom mathematics at work that puts us, our seed, and what it will produce into Holy Spirit alignment!

Each seed has a different expectation within it; a different purpose and the ‘DNA’ of a different crop. And there are moments where we might use one seed instead of another seed. The soil can determine the seed, as can the type of harvest required, and quite often, both of these factors come together to narrow down the choice of seed. All thanks to our guide, the Holy Spirit, who makes this easy.

But what things can affect the seed? What aspects of the seed, quantity, place of planting, care, and so forth, will determine the fullness of the harvest?

Well, going back to Luke 6:38, we discover that with the measure we use it is measured back to us…

So, if we are stingy and disobedient in the type, amount, or quality of the seed. If we are selfish in where we plant the seed and how it is cared for… then that stinginess, disobedience, and selfishness will be reflected in the harvest. With likely a small, perhaps even scraggly crop.

Yet, if we are generous and obedient in the type and amount of seed, the quality of the seed, where it is planted, and how it is cared for… then that generosity and obedience will be reflected in the harvest. With likely a massive, impressive, and overflowing crop! And in some cases even 100-fold multiplication!

“Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity!”

—2 Corinthians 9:7 (TPT)

God loves a cheerful giver, but obedience is a large key to Kingdom mathematics. Because sometimes God may ask us to plant a massive amount of high-quality seed, while at other times, He might ask us to plant only a single seed—even as small as a mustard seed. And in these situations, it is easy to want to give more or less than God asks. But obedience is one of the determiners of the crop that will come. And it is a key part of our walk with the Lord!

Seed to Harvest

When we plant seed, we generally know that there will be a harvest, but often we want to know why we are planting and what its purpose is. But sometimes God hides it from us to remind us that He desires our trust. Our obedience. And that we do not always have to understand the ‘why.’ Yet, while God may not always give us every reason behind the planting of a seed, He does not intend for us to be ignorant of seed time and harvest time. Of Kingdom mathematics.

When there is need in our lives—or at times, in the lives of others—often God will have us plant a seed. And it is not limited to a financial need or even one of salvation. Sometimes God will have us plant into a healing of our emotions, for our promotion into the next level or season of our call, and so many other things!

By planting seed—often by giving what we ourselves need—we are TRUSTING God to multiply it. And this, when aligned with God’s will and ways, leads us to be filled to overflowing! 

This obedience is where we activate our faith—our seed—demonstrating not only through words, but action, that we stand in the truth of our God, believing that He will do everything He has said!

By giving what we need, it is not only about receiving the harvest for ourselves… because the gift not only makes a way for us, it also makes a way for others. It brings blessing and favor!

When we need hope, we can give hope, which in turn plants seeds of hope in us as well, creating a harvest!

When we need the manifestation of God’s promise, we can plant seed into someone else’s promise, being a vessel through which God blesses them, while we, through God’s love, prepare the way for our promise.

When we need an increase of finances, we can plant financial seed where God leads, preparing the way for multiplication where the seed was planted and in our own lives…

Yet, we need to be mindful not to worship the blessing over God; giving honor to the harvest but not to Him. God not only longs to create an abundance in us and in all His children, He longs for relationship as well. And relationship is not only about what we can get… but what we can give!

Takeaway

Over and over again God teaches us about giving and receiving. About planting and reaping. Not only for our blessing, but for the blessing of others, and the witness that blessing brings. 

The seed and blessing of harvest can be in finances. It can be in promotion. It can be in the spiritual realm. It can be in the physical realm. It does not make any difference. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And His Kingdom mathematics… His lessons of planting and harvesting… they are not limited by our view.

We can plant seed and watch it multiply. We can harvest the crop and enter into God’s Kingdom principles and ways—multiplying what He gives us so that we can be good stewards. Giving seed and watching it grow. So that we, like the servants in Jesus’ parable who multiplied what they were given… can hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”