The Parable of The Extravagant Sower
Saying 9: “Jesus said, “Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, did not take root in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fell on thorns; they choked the seed(s) and worms ate them. And others fell on the good soil and it produced good fruit: it bore sixty per measure and a hundred and twenty per measure.”
In this parable, we have another example of a story that, to the hearers in Jesus’ day, would have sounded extremely foolish. Why? Because sowers never take a handful of seeds and toss them randomly around them as they walk along the road. That’s not how it’s done. In fact, if you’re hoping to become a successful farmer, the last thing you should do is to haphazardly fling seeds willy-nilly in all directions. That’s a recipe for failure.
But, in this parable, Jesus intentionally portrays the sower as one who freely spreads the seeds anywhere and everywhere possible. The point seems to be that the sower isn’t worried about wasting the seeds, and he isn’t concerned about whether he gets the greatest ROI [return on investment]. The sower’s only concern is to spread as much seed in as many places as possible. There is an abundance of seed that erases any and all concerns for conservation or any sense of lack.
This freedom and abundance is what motivates the sower to freely spread seeds in every direction. Yes, some of those seeds become a source of food for the birds of the air and the worms of the soil, but even those are not wasted. They provide sustenance for these poor creatures that God famously shows concern and compassion for: the birds who do not sow or reap are fed and cared for by their Creator, and this same loving God watches over us as well.
The sower’s exuberance is rewarded when the seed finds an open heart, a waiting soul, and a fertile spirit that gratefully receives the good seeds and produces good fruit as a result.
In this parable we see that even a small handful of seeds yield an exceptional harvest; creating even more abundance that everyone can enjoy.
There is no lack of seed, or fruit, or harvest in God’s Kingdom. There is more than enough for everyone to be cared for, provided for and made whole. Even the birds and the worms are fed along the way.
The image here is one of abundance and plenty. Everyone receives the blessings of God. No one is left out. Generosity is boundless. Love is endless. The Kingdom is a fountain of living water that bubbles up within us and flows outward for everyone to drink from and be refreshed.
The point is that there is no need for us to fear. We are surrounded by a source of constant provision; a God who sees us, knows us, cares for us, and who delights in providing daily bread for our bodies, as well as for our souls.
What we must do is to trust this God and rest in this truth. There is no lack of seed, or fruit, or daily bread. We are one with the Father and the Father is one with us.
Any sense of separation from God is an illusion. Any fear of lack is a lie.
Once we see this and accept this, we, too, can become sowers who share freely all of the good things we have received from the Father without fear of running out.
Generosity, abundance and freedom are the realities we embrace once we understand our Oneness with God.
Freely you have received. Freely, give.
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Keith Giles is the author of the 7-part best-selling Jesus Un book series from Quoir Publishing. Keith is also the host of Second Cup with Keith [a new solo podcast available now on the Ethos Radio App, for Apple and Android and on Spotify; and the Heretic Happy Hour Podcast [along with co-hosts Matthew Distefano, Dr. Katy Valentine, and Derrick Day], and the new Apostate’s Anonymous podcast with Matthew Distefano.
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