Growing Seed; Mark 4:26-29

Church History: 26He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."

This parable is an instructive lesson to the ministers of the gospel. They are instructed to act faithfully, doing their parts in sowing the seed of the word among their people. They are told not to be over-solicitous about the event, but to leave the issue to God; They are told not to be discouraged, though the fruit of their labor does not appear right away.
Accordingly Christ sets forth the laborious husbandman to his ministers' imitation. As the husbandman, when he has prudently and painfully cast his seed into the ground, is not anxiously upset, but goes to bed, and rests in hope, and at length the corn springs up; first the blade, then the ear, then the grain.
In like manner let the ministers of God do their duty without discouragement; in the morning they sow their seeds. Although the seed sown does not appear immediately, (it may not be in our days,) and seems rotting among the clods of dirt; it may appear afterwards with a plentiful increase, when our own heads are laid to rest; verifying that saying of our Savior, One sows, and another reaps.
From this we learn:
1. The ministry of the word is the ordinary, the necessary and the principal means which God has appointed for sowing the seed of grace in the hearts of his people: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground.

2. That the virtue and efficacy of the word preached does not depend upon the parts of a man, but upon the power of God; The seed springs up, he knows not how.

3. That the word of God sincerely preached may be successful, though it is not presently successful; the seed sown in one minister's days, may spring up in another's.
Happy we, if as God's husbandmen we be employed in plowing, sowing, or reaping; our Lord will reward us not according to our success, but according to our endeavors. The care and endeavor is ours, but the blessing and success is God's.