Years ago, when my children were younger and still living at home, the Lord shared some things with me that changed my life. He was revealing to me the power in sowing seed, particularly financial seed, and what it would do to my life as I obeyed.
In Galatians 6:10 Paul said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Many times when we read that, we do so in a church service setting at offering time. That certainly is an appropriate time to use this verse. But the Lord gave me greater understanding of it, and it changed my life. He told me to use this verse when it came time to give to my family—my wife and children—because they were my household of faith.
At the time the Lord shared this with me I was much younger in ministry and still growing in the area of prosperity. I have a place in my wallet that I like to stash away large bills (I call it my rat hole), and I had managed to save five one hundred dollar bills, which was a huge amount of money to me at that time. The Lord challenged me to use that money as seed and sow it into my household of faith. So one day while Phyllis was cooking in the kitchen, I went to her and explained how she was my household of faith and I wanted to sow some seed into her. I gave her those five one hundred dollar bills, and you would have thought I had given her a million dollars! For the next few weeks, I could do no wrong. It was heaven on earth in the Webb house. She was cooking me all my favorite meals and doing everything that makes me happy.
This revelation caused me to see so many things differently. For instance, when it came time to buy the kids new school clothes, instead of seeing it as a burden and obligation, I saw it as an opportunity to do good by sowing seed into my household of faith. It didn’t matter what my family needed—groceries, furniture, clothes, or a vacation—suddenly every opportunity became an opportunity to sow seed into the greatest ground I knew of, my household of faith.
We all have an opportunity to apply this same principle and attitude this Christmas. Instead of buying gifts for your family because it is what you have always done and it is what you are supposed to do, do it with the purpose of sowing seed into your household of faith.
The Lord shared this revelation with me because He knew I needed help in the area of finances. I was hungry to experience the prosperity that Jesus provided for me. I had learned some truth concerning it, but when I received this understanding, of seeing my family as the best ground I had to sow into, it took me to another level financially.
To this day, I operate by this principle. In my greatest times of need, I have sown my most precious seeds into my wife, children, and now grandchildren. And the Lord always confirms His Word with signs following. I continually see increase.
God established the law of seedtime and harvest for us to operate in and benefit from. Second Corinthians 9:6-7 says, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
It matters how we sow as well. God loves a cheerful giver, and He said that when we do sow cheerfully, He would make all grace abound toward us and we would have sufficiency in all things. We determine our attitude.
It’s so important to operate in the principles that God has laid out for us in His Word. Take advantage of the opportunities you have right now to sow into your household of faith. There is harvest available to you, but it’s up to you to plant the seed into the greatest ground you have—your household of faith.