If the Kingdom is like a farmer, we can think of two different ways that a church can be focused.

One is to emphasize “stewarding the seed” which we have been given–preserving it, especially in times when planting conditions are poor and harvesting conditions seem poorer. We might plant some of it, but not necessarily all of it. We might be careful where we plant, because the soil is dry or rocky or the birds are numerous.

Another is to emphasize “spreading”–especially in times of rich harvests. We spread the seed in all kinds of soil because we don’t know exactly where a crop will spring up.

We can’t always be stewarding the seed. Sometimes we have to sow aggressively. On the other hand, if you sow too aggressively in poor times, you might not have any seed leftover when the times of plenty come.

The most important thing is to know the times you are in, and sow accordingly.