Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Bigger and Better
* Scripture: Jesus said, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Matt. 19:30)

Bigger is better! At least in the realm of fruits and vegetables. Everybody wants the prize-winner, the largest variety possible. The seed catalogues cash in on this tendency by showing pictures of a child with a giant pumpkin, so big that she can sit upon it. Maybe it is the dinner-plate sized dahlia that catches the eye of the flower aficionado. The most widely sought treasure of bigness, though, is probably the tomato.
I have read that the tomato is possibly the most widely grown of a things garden. It may be the only edible produce in the garden, tucked into a small bed, staked and trained to take up the least space possible. But BIG! Tomatoes have to be big. Large enough that one slice fills a sandwich. In fact, some of the most popular varieties have big in the name - Big Boy, or even Better Boy.
Big isn't everything, though. The smallest among the tomato family is a tough little rascal, a real survivor. Year after year, I find volunteer cherry tomatoes coming up where they grew the previous year. The seeds endure freezing winter temperatures and otherwise harsh treatment to grow and prosper.
The rich young man probably enjoyed all that society had to offer, and sought to cap it by obtaining eternal life. How had he prepared? He tells Jesus that he had kept all the commandments. Commendable, Jesus said, but sell all that you have, and give to the poor. "Come, follow me." (Mt. 19:21b)
If the rich, who have seemingly been rewarded monetarily as a result of their righteousness, can't make it into heaven, who can be saved?
There are several instances in the New Testament records where disciples have their eyes and hopes set on the higher, more prominent places on the ladder of success.
Peter, who reminds Jesus of the sacrifices the disciples have made, giving up all to follow Him, questions the reward they shall have for this work. Kings and rulers typically reward their closest associates and supporters with well-placed positions and honor.
Honor and prestige is not to be the goal of working for God. That may come, Jesus said, but the least of these shall many times be first, and the sure-fire prize winner shall be the last. The humble, the ones willing to be a servant to all, and not the seekers for the grand and glorious, shall be most precious in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus follows by teaching the Parable of the Laborers in the vineyard (Mt. 20) and concludes by again sharing that the last shall be first; "Many are called, but few chosen."
Sometimes it is better to be a cherry tomato rather than a Big Boy.
July 9, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Jesus said, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” Luke 12:35 NIV

Suppose - just suppose - that you are on your way to town. You decide to pull over, stop, and just sit there. People stop, ask if you are having a problem, if you need help, etc. You decline assistance, say you just got tired of going forward, and don’t want to go back, either.
Doesn’t make sense, right? Nobody in their right mind would likely do such a thing. Yet people do things with their lives all the time that make no more sense.
Jesus told the parable of just such a person, which we know as the Parable of the Rich Fool. The man tore down his barns, built bigger ones, and stored up enough that he said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” (Lk. 12:19)
What of the future? He decided to “pull over, stop, and just sit there.” Someone else got what he had prepared to enjoy.
Jesus goes on in Lk. 12:35 by advising to “be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” Jesus cautions against knowing the master’s will and not getting ready or not doing what the master wants.
Check out once again Jesus’ words to the disciples in Mt. 28: 19., “Therefore go . . .” He did not say, “Sit.” He did not say, “Take it easy; this is as good as it gets.”
All Jesus’ disciples (and I think that includes us) are encouraged to be active participants in God’s Kingdom. I will point out only a couple:
Hebrews 13:15, 16 - “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
1 Peter 5:2 “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.”
Peter also calls us to an active life, moving forward, to “add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our lord Jesus Christ. “(1 Peter 1:5-8)
Are you actively adding in increasing measure to your Christian growth, or have you pulled over to the side to take life easy?
January 5, 2003