ebenezer union baptist church

The Parable of the Humble Seed

Once, there was a humble farmer who lived in a small village. His fields were not vast, and his wealth was not great, but his heart was full of love for God and his neighbors. Each season, he would plant his seeds in the earth, trusting that God would bring the rain and sun to help them grow.

One day, as the farmer walked along his field, he noticed a single seed had fallen from his hand and landed on a rocky path. He bent down and, with care, moved the little seed into the fertile soil nearby.

Weeks passed, and the other seeds began to sprout tall and strong, but the little seed remained small, hidden beneath the earth. The farmer tended to his fields, watering and weeding, all while keeping watch over that tiny, unseen seed.

One morning, the farmer woke to find that the little seed had sprouted. Its shoot was tender, but its roots were deep. In time, it grew into the mightiest plant in the entire field, bearing more fruit than any of the others.

The villagers marveled at the plant, for they had thought nothing of the small seed. But the farmer smiled and said, “The smallest seed, when planted in love, grows into the greatest harvest.”

Then the farmer spoke to those gathered around and said, “The kingdom of heaven is like this. Though your acts of love may seem small, they are planted in the soil of God’s grace. What you sow in kindness, in mercy, in forgiveness, will grow beyond what you can see. For God takes the small and makes it great, the humble and raises it up. Just as the seed bore fruit, so will your love bear the fruit of heaven.”