Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Matthew 13:3 NIVUK
So now we come to the first of our parables.
Many years ago, my family and I travelled down to Cornwall for my uncle's wedding. My mother drove our hired car down a country lane. On either side, crops were growing tall, ready to be harvested.
My dad was a townie. So my mother asked him, ‘Alex, do you know what that is?’
‘No, love.’ he replied.
‘It’s wheat.’ she told him.
‘It can’t be.’ he argued. ‘It looks nothing like breakfast cereal.’
This parable has several names. I agree that it's more about the types of soil than the sower or the seed.
However, we can play with useless semantics. The most important thing is that we understand what it means, see ourselves in it and become fruitful and productive.
Very handily, Jesus explains this parable.
But there might be a sense in which we wished He hadn’t.
We’ll go into each of the four soils in detail later. However, this parable has a very simple meaning:
Our productivity in the Kingdom of God is determined by how we receive His Word.
You see, we cannot ignore that this is a Kingdom parable, in the context of teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. A King can be decreed or appointed, but he is only really a king when his people are subject to him and allow him to take the role. It’s like the old saying: a leader without followers is just someone out for a walk.
A king expresses himself through his decrees – his words.
Likewise, the king of the Kingdom of Heaven.- God – expresses Himself through His Word.
So how we react to this Word determines whether or not He really is king for us, and thus determines how fruitful or productive we are for Him.
This is a very simple concept. Even in our secular workplaces, if we respect our boss, we are motivated to work harder; if we don’t respect our boss, we are demotivated. The quality of our followership and our attitude towards them has an impact on our productivity for them.
But what, or who, is this Word?
Of course, it goes without saying that is the Bible.
But there is also this:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 NIVUK
So it’s what we do with the Word of God – and the One who ultimately both spoke it and embodied it – that determines how productive we are for the Kingdom of Heaven.
As with all principles taught by parables, this is a simple, but deeply profound, truth.
And one that should help us keep our priorities in order.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I understand that for me to grow and be productive for Your Kingdom, I must hear Your Word, receive it and obey it. Help me as I study this parable to see the condition of my heart and set right anything that would stop me from being productive for you. Amen.
Questions
1. What is the message of this parable? Why is it important?
2. Why does our productivity for the Kingdom of Heaven depend on how we react to the Word of God?
3. How can you make this a priority in your life?
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