Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, that He had come from God, and was going back to God … John 13:3 ESV1
If you had a money tree in your room that produced $100 bills and every time you picked one, two more grew back in its place, would you be stingy with your spending? Wouldn’t there be something seriously wrong with your thinking if you lived in poverty? Likewise, wouldn’t you be incredibly selfish if you refused to be generous?
As He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the End of the Age?” Matthew 24:3 ESV1
For as long as I have lived in this house, I have gotten a great deal of pleasure out of viewing the huge trees in my neighbor’s front yard. Those trees have blessed that house with shade for generations. And they have been a great joy to me every Autumn when their leaves have turned such vibrant reds, oranges, and golds. But this year is different. This Spring, my neighbor had those trees cut down. Why? Because what appeared so impressive from the outside was completely rotten in the middle. One strong windstorm and any one of those trees could have toppled and caused great damage to their home and harm to their very lives. Retaining them because of their beauty wasn’t worth the risk.
Thinking about those trees reminds me of something I recently studied in the Bible.
Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas and said to them, “Engage in business until I come.” Luke 19:13 ESV1
What would you do if your employer called you to his/her office and handed you a check equal to about four months of your current salary? What if your boss then explained that he/she was entrusting you with this money for the purpose of conducting business and making a profit while he/she was called away for an undetermined length of time to acquire another business asset? What would you contemplate doing with the money if you knew you would be held accountable for how you put it to use in your boss’s absence? Late in His earthly ministry, this is the exact scenario Jesus presented, in parable form, to His disciples.
Evidently, 1,900 people were invited to the wedding service of Prince William and Kate Middleton of England. It has been reported that one million people crowded the streets of London on April 23, 2011, hoping to get a peek at William and Kate’s wedding parade. Additionally, an astonishing two billion people watched this royal wedding on live television across several media outlets. It is estimated that the whole amazing affair, including flowers, rings, cakes, Kate’s dress, and security, cost a whopping $50 million. In terms of numbers and cost, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018, was comparable. In fact, most royal weddings cost millions of dollars and are watched by people numbering in the multi-millions.
Considering the enormous expense and interest in royal weddings, one would imagine if any person was specifically invited to such a celebration, he/she would make every effort to attend. And if anyone who had been invited found that he/she must decline the royal invitation, it appears that any one of millions of others would have gladly taken his/her place. That is what makes the following story, told by Jesus, about those who snubbed their invitation to a royal wedding so astounding.
Read Matthew 13:1-9 & 18-23, Mark 4:1-9 & 13-20 & Luke 8:4-15
I wouldn’t consider myself an expert by any means, but I do know quite a bit about crop production. I grew up on a farm. In college, I worked at an agronomic company helping develop corn hybrids. I live in a rural area; fields can be viewed by looking out any window of my home. I know how crops are planted. I understand how they are protected from pests, weed infestations, and unsuitable weather conditions. I am acquainted with how crops are harvested and how they are stored. And I am aware of several uses for the common crops grown in my area.
Jesus’ audience was undoubtedly familiar with the agriculture of their area. Because Jesus often used as teaching illustrations what was around Him and those He taught—this was especially true when He taught in parables—Jesus used the subject of planting seeds to teach a spiritual lesson. The hope was that His followers would gain greater understanding by taking the initiative to make the segue between the physical and what it represented in the spiritual realm.
Only heartless Christians don’t care about lost souls. Only narcissistic Christ-followers want to keep the Good News to themselves. Only selfish Believers don’t want to create welcoming opportunities for those desiring to get closer to Jesus. But gearing church services and activities to reach those who don’t yet know Christ is easier said than done. Contemporary music can initiate intimate times of worship, but it can also become pure performance. Casual attire can promote humility as easily as it can unholiness. Sermons intended to be relevant can meet people where they are but often don’t lift up them to where they should be. Limiting religious decor can remove distraction or it can take the focus entirely off of Christ. Seeker-friendly services can become fabulous shows of what man can do instead of what God can do–if they are missing one crucial ingredient. Looking more closely at a familiar Scriptural account can help us discover what that often-lacking element is.
My son was born with a heart defect. Because of his condition, we learned that some of the bacteria which dwell in one’s mouth would like to thrive in one’s heart. Bacteria that causes little problem in the mouth can cause serious, life-threatening infections in the heart. To prevent such complications, when my son was young, he always had to take an antibiotic before he went to the dentist. Similarly, not only does a mouth and heart connection exist in the physical realm; it exists in the spiritual realm, as well.