What Kind of Seed?

II Corinthians 9:6-8

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Matthew 13:24-43

I know that Jesus explains the parable of the weeds as the world and the evil that is within it, but I started thinking about this parable on a smaller scale.  While Jesus spoke of the world, I began to think about my life and the evil that I encounter, the bad seed that is sown all around me throughout my day.  How do I react to these things that come my way?  Many times I want to do as the servant asked, I want to pull up the weeds that seem to be invading my life, but after reading this several times I began to see things a bit differently.  Maybe it is those weeds that make me stand firmer for Christ and if I try to pull them up and discard them then it will upset my root growth.  The troubles of this world are frustrating and can be extremely disheartening, but I also have to recognize that it is those difficult times that make me not only stronger, but different.  These troubles change me and draw me closer to Christ.  I find myself, when things are going well, praying for God to humble me.  While I don’t enjoy the bumps in the road, I know without a doubt it is during those times that I become closer to God.  It is during those times that my dependence on Jesus becomes greater. 

Am I sowing weeds among the wheat?  I hope not, but if I never ask myself these difficult questions then I am just ignoring the subject when it comes to evaluating my walk with Christ.  We can never get to a point that we think we know everything about God’s Word and we will not falter---it is at that point that we will fall.  I do acknowledge that I mess up regularly, but I know that God forgives me and I do work at being better for all the mistakes that I do make.  As he explains the parable, Jesus leaves no doubt as to what will happen to the weeds and the sowers of those weeds, and I certainly want no part of that, but avoiding hell is not the sole reason that I serve Christ.  As a child I always thought that was the goal---become a Christian and you don’t have to spend eternity in hell, but it is so much more than that.  Serving Christ is what I desire to do because I love him, not because I am trying to avoid anything.  For as long as I can remember my grandmother has always said, people just don’t know what they are missing when they wait until they are close to death to turn to Jesus, they have missed so many wonderful things here on this earth.  Nothing could be truer!  Sure we have a wonderful reward in Heaven, more wonderful than we can even imagine, but look at the opportunities that one might have missed while here on earth.  The blessings missed and the opportunities to witness to someone. 

I want to be the sower who sows seeds that will produce like the mustard seed.  My seed may not be always be large, but it is true and genuine, and when I allow Jesus to shine on it and water it, then it will produce like no other.