SEED POWER - Part III

SEED POWER - Part III

Our series text follows:

Matthew 13:24-30(NKJV)

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, ‘First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.’

The single facet that I find most disturbing about this parable is set forth in verses 27-28.  The farm workers questioned the landowner about the presence of tares in the field (even though good seed had been planted).  His response was immediate and alarming: “An enemy has done this.”  Wow!  It’s one thing to have caused major issues to spring up in your own life, i.e. to shoot yourself in the foot so to speak; it’s quite another to become victimized by the ill will and chicanery of others!

However, a mature perspective includes the simple realization that no individual has total control over every situation or occurrence that springs up in or around his/her life.  No one has complete control over others; neither do YOU.

Does this fact suggest that we are to assume a fatalistic and passive view of life, that is, to throw up our hands in surrender and shout “Que sera, sera!” [What will be, will be].  Absolutely not.  Nevertheless, there is an important lesson in the very next part of the parable.  When queried about his intended response to the presence of counterfeit wheat, the landowner said something surprising.  Instead of allowing his workers to excise the tares, potentially causing damage to his intended crop, he insisted “Let both grow together until the harvest.”

The farmer’s decision to avoid a knee-jerk reaction to trouble is directly tied to the principle of sowing and reaping. (Genesis 8:22)  In truth, “whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)  Even when we have been wronged, and even if we can identify a human source behind our troubles, we are yet accountable to God for our reactions and responses.  One fruit of the Spirit is temperance or self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  Remember this.  How we respond to challenges reveals our character, our connection to Christ, as well as the degree to which we REALLY believe in God’s Word.  Think about it.

Case in point: After David was terribly wronged by King Saul, he had ample opportunity to avenge himself.  Instead of taking Saul’s life as indeed he could have, David graciously spared him and brought about spiritual conviction (at least for the time being) to the conscience of the king.  Saul’s grateful response to David?  “For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely?  Therefore may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.” (I Samuel 24:19)  Saul’s prayer was prophetic since David eventually assumed his throne and inherited all his possessions.  After all is said and done, GOD is in control!

So stop trying to pay people back for what they have done or said to you and yours.  After all, GOD says “Vengeance, I will repay.” (Romans 12:19)

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!