God's Garden - Pt. 6

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:26-29 ESV).

 

Not far from where we live there are acres of land devoted to growing cotton. I’m sure there are many people who are able to adequately explain the science of this process; however, not being one of those folks, I have included an illustration of it with this writing.

 

Perhaps you have read to your children the stories of Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel. One favorite was the tale of Toad planting a garden. After a day or two he began to fret about whether his seeds would ever sprout and grow. So he sang to them, stayed up with them all night (in case they were afraid of the dark), and even screamed at them and wept over them. Exhausted, Toad finally fell asleep. When he awoke, he saw to his great relief that the seeds had sprouted.

 

Too often, we are like Toad in our lives. We act and feel as if it all depends on us. As Jesus tells us in this parable contained in the reading today, God’s garden grows from seed to harvest “all by itself.” So much of this is a mystery. We need to do our part —sow the seed, water, tend the garden, and reap the harvest — but we do not make the seed grow. That happens by God’s gracious work. We can simply delight in doing our small part in growing the kingdom.

 

Often it is also true that others may do a portion of the same work. While you only watered, others sowed, tended, and reaped. I have found that to be frustrating at times. I want to see the results. God merely tells me to trust Him to bring the harvest. That requires faith, which is often easier said than done. Today, as you do your part, look at the miraculous examples of nature and realize that God will make let His “seed” flourish bearing much fruit. Content yourself with your part and trust God to finish it. He never fails.