"A Sower Went Out" (Mt. 13:3)

1. It is not difficult to sow.  How hard is it to spread seed?  Sure, there are some who are better at it or more gifted than others, but any Christian can (and should) sow.  Don't be so worried about doing everything right that you do nothing.
2. The sower had to go.  It was no use sowing seed in the house.  He had to go to the fields.  The problem is that we want the field to come to us.
3. The sower went out to sow seed.  The seed is the gospel, the good news of Jesus.  Don't sow your opinion or counsel.  Sow the Word of God.  Don't sow politics.  Sow the Word.  Don't sow good times.  Sow the Word.  Get what you can in as often as you can.
4. The sower went to his own field, not someone else's.  Sowing in a stranger's field -- How awkward that would be!  The sower knows his field.  He has been in and out many times.  He makes that familiarity work for Him.  He does not have that same advantage in another's field. Sow where you are.
5. The sower went out to do one thing.  Sow.  He didn't go out to weed, or to take in some air, or to pick up rocks, or to dig up thorns.  Those are important endeavors and should be done, but not at the expense of sowing.  Better success might come from better prepared soil, but life is not in the soil.  Life is in the seed.  Once again, sow the Word.

Four Actions of The Sower (Psa. 126:5-6)

"Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psa. 126:5-6, NASB).

1.  The sower "goes to and fro."

• He takes initiative.  He "goes", understanding that the soil will not come to the seed.
• He constantly moves.  He goes "to and fro."  He understands that there will be a place where the seed is received.

2.  The sower weeps ("weeping") as he goes. 

• He is weeping because of the hardness of the soil.  He understands that there are places he can't soften.  He can pray, he can love, but he can't make people interested in the gospel.  
• He is weeping because of the scarcity of results.  He recognizes what's at stake when someone rejects the gospel.
• He is weeping because of the frustration from the sowing.  He recognizes that rejection, excuses, even hostility are part of the opportunity, yet he battles to stay faithful.
• He is weeping because of the lateness of the hour.  He understands that the time for sowing isn't open-ended.  He is running out of time.  So are the people who continue to reject the gospel!

3.  The sower carries ("carrying") "his bag of seed."

• He understands that the more seed you carry, the heavier the bag becomes.
• He understands that he must "carry" the witness he intends to give and gladly takes that burden upon himself.
• The "weight" comes from contemplating what's at stake should he fail to sow.  He will not be one of those who leaves the sowing to someone else.
• Are you carrying your "weight" when it comes to witnessing?

4.  The sower reaps ("shall reap") a harvest.

• It is an expected reaping.  It says he shall reap.  It doesn't say he might.  Don't stop expecting a harvest!  The problem isn't the seed.  The problem usually isn't the sower.  The problem is the soil.  Only God can soften a hard heart.  Only God can make a heart receptive and attentive. The good news for you is that these things are His specialty!
• It is an emotional reaping.  He comes "with joyful shouting."  Whereas before all that was heard were tears of sorrow, now all that can be heard are shouts of joy.  Don't be concerned about the ones who show emotion.  Be concerned about the ones who don't or won't!  Other than your own salvation, nothing should stir you more than God's harvest.

Observations:

1.  Sowing will cost you something.

2.  Not sowing will cost you something.

3.  Not sowing will cost others something.

4.  The reward is worth the effort.