Have you made plans, started to execute them, then found flaws in them? Have you had your plans undermined by someone else? Do you pull all the weeds out of your garden and flower beds? Does it frustrate you that they continue to come back? Do you wonder what these things have in common?
Weeds in gardens and plans made don’t appear to have anything in common, but they do. When someone undermines your plans, it’s like the weeds in your flower bed. The beauty you had planned now has ugly spots that need to be attended to or removed.
Jesus tells the parable about weeds being sown in the among the wheat. Our immediate reaction, much like the slaves of the field owner, is to pull them up. We want the weeds out so the grain can grow to its fullest. We want the weeds out, so they do not detract from our flower beds. We want the bad performers or the ones undermining our plans to be removed and cast aside. We believe it is the best for all involved.
We’ve been told that God’s ways are not our ways. This parable demonstrates it with full force. In the parable, the landowner tells his slaves to leave the weeds alone, lest they also pull up the wheat. This is a great demonstration of God’s amazing grace and mercy. God’s desire is to save every person. If he “removed” every teenager who did something they knew they shouldn’t, how would he have an opportunity later in their life to save them? Not only that, imagine how many other lives would be impacted negatively! No, God’s ways are not our ways. His patience, grace, and mercy give the wayward souls an opportunity for many years to change direction and run to him.
I pray we all are thankful for God’s patience with us. I pray we open our eyes and see his amazing grace. I pray each one of us seek opportunities to help a wayward soul turn to God. Thank God for his patience. See God’s amazing grace. Seek opportunities to help a wayward soul.
Matthew 13:24-25 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away.”
Marty Pressey 