Faith is a completely unknown idea to many people – to trust him whom I have only heard of, to believe in Calvary and that God will receive me on the basis of his promise. Here we find arguments to help us overcome our reluctance to exercise faith.
Solomon uses this figure to teach us how to exercise faith and to encourage us to overcome our hesitation in trusting in God. You did not personally see him on earth, but you have the record in Scripture. You did not see the miracles, or his death on the cross in taking our eternal punishment for sin; you did not see it any more than one who casts seed can see what happens to it, but you must trust. This word is your warrant. ‘I believe the promises of God. I will trust in him and yield.’ To the outsider it seems to be a waste to worship God, to keep his day holy, for are there not more pleasurable things to be doing on our day off? It seems a waste to repent of all those sins that are the spice of life and make it worth living, and it seems a waste to give up living for ourselves and accumulating all the substance we can in this world. Why should we tithe what we have and give the best part of what we gain to the Lord? All these acts spring from faith, but to the unbeliever they seem to bring only loss.
The illustration teaches us that faith always appears this way to the outsider. Faith from the perspective of the non-Christian involves loss of what is precious, but from the perspective of the one who loves God it involves gain, because God will supply a spiritual harvest in return. Just as the farmer receives a wonderful return for his sowing, so the Christian receives the gift of eternal life and pleasures for ever more at God’s right hand. To the outsider the Christian life seems a misery. What is that new convert doing throwing their life away? He doesn’t understand that without God he has nothing. What would happen if you kept the seed back and did not sow it? How much you will get? A few loaves worth maybe, but certainly not enough to see you through the following winter. The farmer takes advantage of the wonderful multiplication process that comes through planting his seed. You don’t get much from self-determination, if you take your life and do not sow it for the Lord.