Have you ever planted a seed? I was taught that the size of the seed determines how deep you plant it. If a seed is half an inch then cover it with half an inch of soil. Basil seeds are nearly microscopic. You press them into the soil and cover them with fine leaf mulch and place in a sunny location, keep moist and wait on God.

I was reading Luke 16 and the importance of taking extra special care of God’s Word really swelled up in my heart, so I’m sharing it.

The lesson is this: We need to care of God’s Word for it is very precious, so when we plant it, we need to make sure we are planting it exactly as it is written. We need to take time to look it up, and give the precise reference to the individual we are speaking to. If we sincerely want to help others know Jesus and receive His salvation & inheritance; then we should make sure we’re sharing His Word as it is written, and not give a half hearted reference, or be flippant about it. We should be sure they know how to find it in their bible, and take time to find it ourselves to be sure it’s what we intended to share.

Jesus said “18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelations 22:18-19

In Luke 16 Jesus said “12And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]?” AMP

Jesus was talking about being faithful (by taking care of) what belongs to someone else; your boss, job, friend, family member; and the sudden realization that God’s Word belongs to HIM; He’s the Author, so I (we) must handle it reverently and correctly.

God is the grower because it is written in 1 Corinthians 3:5-13 “5What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:

6I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.

7So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.

8He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.

9For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.

10According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it,

11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

12But if anyone builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly] known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has done.

14If the work which any person has built on this Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his reward.

15But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.

16Do you not discern and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God's temple (His sanctuary), and that God's Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?

17If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing church and its individual believers] are.

18Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] wise.

19For this world's wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness;

20And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are.

21So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours,

22Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas (Peter), or the universe or life or death, or the immediate and threatening present or the [subsequent and uncertain] future--all are yours,

23And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”