Have you ever been part of a church service, prayer meeting or other similar event where, after the ministration, people were directly or indirectly asked to ‘sow a seed’ in order to receive their miracle? i.e. to give before they receive? How do you react to these seed-sowing requests? Personally, it doesn’t sit right with me. The term ‘transactional’ comes to mind. As such, I’ve been exploring the whole concept of sowing seeds to obtain miracles, favour and blessings from God. Invariably, when it comes to exploring truths, the Bible wins hands down; and when it comes to models worthy of emulation, Jesus reigns supreme.

I have studied the scriptures and cannot find any Biblical record of Jesus asking anyone to ‘sow a seed’ into His ministry in order to receive healing or any other miracle. The one time He asked someone to sell all their possessions, it wasn’t to sow the proceeds into His ministry. Instead He asked the man to sell all and give to the poor (Matthew 19:16-22). This somewhat goes against the ideology that if you want your life to be prosperous and fruitful, you should sow into fruitful ministries. Jesus’ ministry is the most fruitful ministry ever, they definitely needed funds to run it, and people indeed contributed greatly to it (Luke 8:1-3). However, Jesus did not solicit funds as a means of obtaining miracles.

There are biblical records in the Old Testament of actions that provoked God’s blessings. Two examples that come to mind are: 1) Solomon giving God such a large offering that God offered Solomon anything he wanted, a blank cheque (1 Kings 3). 2) Elisha, a Prophet of God, and the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37). It is important to note that in these cases, as well as others, it was about the heart of the person offering, not the offering itself. The act of giving was not done with the intention of receiving, it was done out of love, reverence and generosity of heart. In fact, in the case of the Shunammite woman, she even declined to receive something in return for her giving. Elisha had to ask someone else to discover what he could bless her with.

In these cases, if the giving was done just to get something from God, would it have provoked God’s blessings? Would it not have corrupted the gift? In the Old Testament, offerings had to be pure and unblemished (Leviticus 1, Deuteronomy 17, Ezekiel 46:4). Today, while financial transactions don’t exactly have the same obvious blemishes as lambs, damaged offerings could be interpreted as offerings not given with a pure heart. They may be offerings blemished by self-interest, instead of given out of reverence and gratitude to God for who He is and His mighty works.

In Genesis 4, God was not pleased with Cain’s offering and told him, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (v. 7, NIV). The Bible also makes it clear in multiple places that God prefers obedience, steadfast love, knowing God, a broken and contrite heart, righteousness and justice to offerings and sacrifices. 1 Samuel 15:22 famously reminds us that obedience and submission to God is better than sacrifices and offerings. Hosea 6:6 says “I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings” (NLT). Proverbs 21:3 notes that God prefers righteousness and justice more than offerings. In Amos 5:22, 24 (NIV) God cautions that “though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them… but let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.” Even David knew this, when he told God ‘I would have given you a sacrifice or a burnt offering, but I know that’s not what you want. What you want is a broken and repentant heart.” (Psalm 51:16-17 paraphrased). Sadly, calls for financial seeds seem to go out more often, or with more passion, than calls for living right with God.

In Acts 8:18-24, we read the story of a man called Simon who really wanted the Holy Spirit, but instead of simply asking, offered the disciples money to buy the Spirit. Peter rightly castigated him, saying, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.” Peter was justifiably angry with Simon, because he recognised this monetary offer for God’s gift as a sign that Simon’s heart was not right before God. Thankfully in verse 24 we read that Simon ended up asking for prayer against this. I remember reading a quote from a pastor recently stating that ‘bribery is trying to hasten with resources what should have been built through a relationship’. In a way, I think that applies to the concept of sowing seeds to get miracles. Instead of seeking an intimate relationship with God that makes asking Him for our desires more natural, we feel it is just easier to sow a ‘seed’ to get what we want. God has told us to ask Him, not to bribe Him or to sow into His life (Matthew 7:7). As Psalm 50:12 (CSB) notes, “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine.”

In Acts 5:1-11, Ananias and Sapphira gave a considerable amount of money (I’m guessing that the amount from the sale of land or property won’t have been small), but their hearts were not right with God. Their reward? Instant death. This served as a lesson to the whole church then. May we not lose that lesson today. Furthermore, as we learn from the story of Elisha, Naaman and Gehazi, it is not every offering that should be accepted (2 Kings 5). Listening to God’s leading rather than being guided by greed is a great way to test our hearts and ensure that the ruler of our decision-making is God, not gifts. Another effective way of guarding our hearts is accountability, to others and ultimately to God (Romans 14:12).

Psalm 49:6-9 is a further reminder that people cannot pay their way to redemption. Eternal life in Christ Jesus is a free gift of God (Romans 6:23, ESV), and that is the greatest gift God has given us. 1 Peter 1:18,23 says “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot… For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (BSB). As such, if God can give us such a priceless yet extremely pricey gift for free, why do we then think we need to pay for other gifts such as healing and deliverance?

I believe that giving should be based on the leading of the Holy Spirit. If people are rightly taught the principles of God’s kingdom as written in the Bible (not in a pick and choose kind of way), then they will give generously out of love for God and a passion for His Kingdom work. 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) notes that “you must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”” Ministers have a certain amount of power and influence after a ministration – whether that be word, prayer and/or worship. It can be very tempting to misuse this ministerial influence to get financial benefits. However it is worth bearing in mind that if God calls, God funds. Ministers do not have to resort to cajoling and enticing words of man’s wisdom, as this does not allow people to “decide in their heart how much to give” without the influence of external pressure.

I completely agree that he that waters must be watered. As Deuteronomy 25:4, also quoted in 1 Timothy 5:18 (NLT) notes, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” However, that watering and grain should come from a place of love, from the leading of the Spirit, not from compulsion or subtle manipulation. I will add that the verse “those who work deserve their pay” (Luke 10:7) is not always quoted in context. When this statement was made, Jesus was sending out His disciples and He wanted them to be open to hospitality. The disciples were probably naturally reluctant to do so and preferred to be self-sufficient. Jesus was trying to convince them that it was okay to receive from others. The church is a family and harmonious families support and receive support from each other. It is in dysfunctional families that you find manipulation and such. As such, while ministers can ask for funds or let their congregations know the needs of the church, such giving should not be linked to receiving miracles.

I don’t necessarily think that all ministers who do this are motivated by greed. Sometimes it is what people have witnessed in other ministries that they replicate. Sadly it perpetuates a faulty, unsavoury practice, one that we should repent of. It is a baton we should drop, rather than hand over to other ministers. It is good to teach and allow people to experience the blessing of giving (Luke 6:38), but that giving should come from a willing heart. Proverbs 23:6-8 (NIV) cautions against eating the food of a begrudging host, as you will waste your pleasant or enticing words. Rely on God not man. When God leads people to give to a ministry, that ministry won’t even need to ask, the giver will be the one seeking for how to give. “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, He will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you” (2 Corinthians 9:10, NLT).

God’s word through Ezekiel in Ezekiel 34:2b is a vital reminder to ministers, “What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?” (NLT). Ministers are called primarily to feed their flocks, not the other way round. There will always be people who need feeding, even if they are not members of a minister’s local congregation. Isaiah 58:7 is a heart-rending reminder that when we have more than enough, God wants us to give to those who don’t have enough. As 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NLT) states, “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”

I pray that we will truly learn to depend on God’s wisdom, provision, and leading as we carry out His work. May we always remember that our God is an incredibly generous Father and employer who gives good gifts to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:11). If we see our ministries as farms in need of seeds, then our faces should turn directly to Jesus, the one who plants the good seed. If we truly listen for, and yield to God’s will, He will provide in ways more lavish than any proceeds our cajoling can produce. Will God who feeds the birds not feed those who are workers in His vineyards? As Hebrews 13:5 encourages, may we ‘keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have, knowing that God has said “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”’

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