Planted or Buried?
Planted or Buried?
Delayed gratification is a Kingdom principle.
It’s choosing to tuck away your current desire in view of the reward to come. It’s patiently waiting for the planted seed to bear fruit, trusting that you will reap what you've sown.
Picture this: Two people in a field.
Both appear busy at work with shovels in hand, turning over soil, dropping something into the ground. From the outside, they look the same. But, one is planting a seed while the other is burying a talent.
Honestly, have you planted a seed and you’re waiting for the proper time to harvest?
Or are you burying your gift because you’re afraid to lose it?
“Have you planted a seed and you’re waiting for the proper time to harvest? Or are you burying your gift because you’re afraid to lose it?”
No one else can tell the difference. But you can.
If your vision is from God, chances are it feels impossible. I’ve seen people plant churches with no money and no network. I’ve seen people start businesses with no formal education. I’ve seen people who were previously homeless become homeowners and realtors. What God has planned for you doesn’t have to make sense to you.
Faith moves you to plant the seed.
Fear convinces you to bury the talent.
“Faith moves you to plant the seed. Fear convinces you to bury the talent.”
In Matthew 25, we see the Parable of the Talents where a man gave his servants talents (large sums of money) according to their ability.
To one he gave 5, another he gave 2 and another, he gave 1.
The first two multiplied theirs. The last buried his out of fear.
What has God given you? What gifts has He uniquely and specifically placed inside of you?
Have you buried it?
I tend to wait for the perfect moment to enjoy things. I typically like to maximize my enjoyment. You might know that I’m a coffee connoisseur. I own a Nespresso and two years ago, I bought limited edition pods that were just so good. Of course the best ones are always limited edition. I told myself I’d save the last one for the perfect, sunny morning to use it…
Two years later, the pod is still there. I say that I’m saving it… but what I’m really doing is refusing to let it go.
If I drink it, it’s gone forever. But if I save it, I get to keep it forever…
But holding on to it doesn’t mean I’m experiencing the goodness of it. It’s become less of a treasure and more of a silent reminder that the season has already ended. The issue is not timing - the issue is acceptance.
So.. is it delayed gratification or is it a missed season? Is it stewardship or is it hoarding?
“Is it delayed gratification or is it a missed season?”
Surely your thing isn’t a saved (wasted) coffee pod.
You’ve buried your desire to marry because you don’t think you can be faithful. You’ve buried your call to preach because you don’t think anyone listens to you. You’ve buried your gift to sing because of a comment made by someone 20 years ago when you were 12. You’ve buried your business idea so deep, no one even knows it exists. It would probably shock people to see you take it seriously. It may look like you’re saving it for the right season. But you know the truth.
Burying your talent is not protecting it - it's neglecting it. Protecting your seed is nourishing it so that it can multiply.
Sometimes we say we are being careful when we are really being lazy.
“Sometimes we say we are being careful when we are really being lazy.”
I’ve heard people say they want marriage but are afraid to mess up.
Immaturity says to just stay away from it. Maturity says, learn. Learn what it means to be a spouse and have a family.
If you are withholding it - it must be withheld with a clear plan, focused intention, and for an allotted season. Faithfulness and wisdom hold the seed only until spring. There are seasons where planting is unwise. If you are postpartum, managing illness, grieving, walking through deep healing… it may not be time to sow. But even that is intentional waiting, not rooted in fear.
Plant your seed in faith.
With patience and with hope.
& In due season, the harvest will come.
