Basket Of Seed

Basket of Seed

Completed on October 2, 2007; this painting represents an offering basket typical of the kind passed to receive the tithes and offerings of a local church. Not only tithing money but also the offering money beyond tithing given to God is seen as a seed planted into His kingdom. This painting shows what the offerings could look like in the spirit realm. Since the Holy Spirit lives inside each believer, He can direct them in the amount to give as well as when and where to give. This seed should be prayed over and sown (given) in faith. This means that the sower sows excitedly expecting a future harvest to come from the seed sown. God’s covenant to bless His people is tied to the giving of their tithe to God’s store house, which in the present day is the church that the sower is involved in for the purpose of receiving teaching and revelation plus an opportunity to help others. As God’s people give their tithe God promises to pour out blessing and also to rebuke The Devourer (spiritual enemy that tries to steal and devour the sower’s harvest) on behalf of those who have given. The back ground of the painting gives the illusion of rich soil plowed and ready for the deposit of seed. The usher carrying the basket blends in as children of God actively serving in their church can be rich soil to sow into. The small amount just to the left of the center of the basket, even though it is a few coins, has been prayed over and given as an act of reverent worship to God and is seen as seed full of life in the spirit realm. The sower of these coins (seated near the front to glean every word taught) just recently came to understand the spiritual concept of sowing seeds and is starting with what little he has. The ten dollar bill in the top center of the painting comes from another reverent sower, as well as a few one dollar bills from other sowers (near the botton of the painting) who have just learned the powerful, joyful way of giving. The stack of twenty dollar bills just to the right of the center of the basket was put in by a church goer who sits farther back. He is less concerned about hearing the words spoken by the pastor and does not put much faith in getting a harvest from his money given. He, in fact, sees it more as money lost from his wallet. Yet he gives because he remembered hearing his parents always say it was the right thing to do. Even more than that, it is excess money that he did not pray over, therefore it is viewed as shriveled, crusty seed that has little life left in it. The one dollar bill to the right of the stack of twenties and the ten dollar bill toward the bottom left of the painting are moneys carelessly tossed in by those who just give out of their excess money so they do not look bad when the basket is passed. This money as well, is viewed as small dry seeds of little spiritual value. There is a one hundred dollar bill, seen as seed bursting with life, fresh, healthy and ready to be planted, located just to the lower right of the center of the painting. The large bill was sown by a person who not only loves God but one who obeys God’s commands faithfully. This mature child of God has known of this powerful spiritual law of sowing and reaping for a long time and has joyfully, expectantly worshipped God with the first and best of all his money. As a result, God has abundantly blessed him with more seed to sow. The more the man sows, the more God gives, for this wise servant of God has learned that God blesses His people so they can then be better equipped to bless others. Not only is this man extravagant in his worship of God with his money but he is also generous when he humbly (and many times anonymously) gives to others. His spiritual seed is multiplied and brings him a rich harvest every time.