day 699: Seed Investments

"It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

There is lots of talk about the importance of small businesses in America and them being the backbone of our economy. In the area of the country where I live, the California Bay Area, our economy certainly thrives and survives on the technology start-ups that pop up from the investments made in new small businesses. Silicon Valley is made up of smart, educated entrepreneurs who build teams, products and services from the investments made by Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists. It is said many times that the most risky investment is the seed investment because if the company doesn't grow quickly and attract new capital at higher valuations, then the seed investor gets washed out. It is true, but it takes the courage and conviction of seed investors to make small businesses grow. When we plant a seed, we can't see what is happening underground. We continue to water and fertilize until we see a growth shoot and then we do all we can to keep it growing and protected from the elements that would like to make sure it doesn't grow. That is seed investing and it's important that there be those who are there to do this, otherwise, there will be no new company seeds to grow. Imagine if Sergey and Larry hadn't had the seed investments by Ron Conway and others. Without Google, the world would be certainly different and business as we know it today would not be as rich or as open to all of us (Google powers this blog in fact).

Jesus told us that His Kingdom was just like one mustard seed that once planted and allowed to grow, would provide us a tree that would be the largest of the garden so that it could be full of birds to perch on its' branches. From one seed comes a powerful and pervasive tree. God wants to plant his seed in us and then for us to allow it to grow and prosper. God has made the ultimate seed investment. He provides all we need to allow the Kingdom of God to grow in us and for us to spread that Kingdom to others. Today, think about the investment that Jesus and the Father made for each of us and consider the seed that he wants us to grow to become. Let us take that seed and spread the Kingdom of God to all those around us.

Reference: Matthew 13:32 (New Living Testament)