Luke 8:4-15 | 2 Corinthians 9:8-10
Somehow, many Christians have walked away from this parable thinking the goal is to find the fertile soil in which to spend time sowing seed. This is good, pragmatic thinking, well-founded by Western business-like practice.
But it’s not what Jesus said the parable was about.
The word of God in the parable is liberally thrown around in many places in the hope it would take in some places. So many Christians today are overly-concerned, paralyzed by fear and suspicion, taking account of who’s in and who’s out, what sin needs highlighting, and protecting the seed in ways God never intended.
God has a lot of seeds. An endless supply, you might say. God’s a liberal farmer. Don’t worry about defending God. God doesn’t need our defense. God wants our witness, faithful to love and holy justice.
And just because your seed-throwing doesn’t result in fruit all the time does not mean you’re doing it wrong.
Everyone who has ears should pay attention.
Luke 8:4-15
When a great crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one city after another, he spoke to them in a parable: “A farmer went out to scatter his seed. As he was scattering it, some fell on the path where it was crushed, and the birds in the sky came and ate it. Other seed fell on rock. As it grew, it dried up because it had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorny plants. The thorns grew with the plants and choked them. Still other seed landed on good soil. When it grew, it produced one hundred times more grain than was scattered.” As he said this, he called out, “Everyone who has ears should pay attention.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “You have been given the mysteries of God’s kingdom, but these mysteries come to everyone else in parables so that when they see, they can’t see, and when they hear, they can’t understand.
“The parable means this: The seed is God’s word. The seed on the path are those who hear, but then the devil comes and steals the word from their hearts so that they won’t believe and be saved. The seed on the rock are those who receive the word joyfully when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while but fall away when they are tempted. As for the seed that fell among thorny plants, these are the ones who, as they go about their lives, are choked by the concerns, riches, and pleasures of life, and their fruit never matures. The seed that fell on good soil are those who hear the word and commit themselves to it with a good and upright heart. Through their resolve, they bear fruit.”
2 Corinthians 9:8-10
God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work. As it is written, He scattered everywhere; he gave to the needy; his righteousness remains forever.
The one who supplies seed for planting and bread for eating will supply and multiply your seed and will increase your crop, which is righteousness.
Prayer
God,
Why am I so fearful? How are you so not fearful? There are people messing things up…you know that, right? Don’t you want me to say something? …to do something?
My culture demands justice. You do too, right?
I guess since I know you demand justice, I think you need me to do it for you. But I do see in Jesus’ example how to go about in the things of justice. I just am more impatient than him. Then again, maybe it’s not about impatience as much as it is power.
So help me, God: Give me the posture of Christ, seeking justice, but in ways consistent with the ethics of your patient heart.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.