26 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear."
Yesterday we read about the parable of the seed and how most of the seed fell into poor or unkempt soil and was lost but how some seed landed into rich soil and produced a huge harvest. In today's teaching Jesus continues with the agrarian theme - only this time he focuses on how growth happens.
But first, note how growth doesn't happen. It does not happen through force of will or manipulation or by worrying. The farmer in the story plants and that is it. He plants and then he sleeps and then he wakes and then he sleeps. In other words, the farmer knows it's a waiting game and that he must be patient for the growth to happen. He waits and he trusts that there is something going on beneath the surface of the ground which he cannot see, but which in due time will reveal itself - first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
Many people worry themselves sick over the growth and development of their children, or their business, or their church. They are the very opposite of the farmer. While he is at peace, they fret. While he sleeps soundly, they are up all night wringing their hands. While he waits patiently for nature to take its course, they are out there forcing, coercing, and conniving. While the farmer trusts the ground, they curse it.
This story says to me to give up the delusion of my being in complete control. It's a reminder that I can only do what I can do, then I need to relax, wait, and trust in the LORD.
Another Scripture says, we plant, we water but God causes the increase. That's how growth happens - it's a God thing. I can only do my part in casting the seed - write my little sermon, visit the poor and shut-in, train my kids in the way they should go - the rest is really up to God, and the seed, and the ground.
And you know, I'm good with that.
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