Clothesline 307 "Let the Seeds Fly"

We all know the Parable of the Sower, about the farmer who scatters seeds in different places…some grow, some don’t. And Jesus himself explains the story. The seed sometimes falls on hard-packed earth where it cannot penetrate…some falls on a weed-choked patch that strangles any growth…and some falls on good soil and flourishes—all of it analogous to spreading the word of God with hearts that accept it… or not.

It’s a good approach to look at the soil, but today let’s look at the sower — that farmer who reaches into his shoulder-pouch and flings the seed everywhere, to his right and to his left as he walks along the path. The usual interpretation is that the sower is God. But, aren’t we also called, in our Christian lives, to be sowers of the Word as well? If we are to follow Jesus’ instructions to “make disciples of all nations,” aren’t we doing something very much like scattering seeds? Yet, if—as the sower of the Word—we are to scatter seeds like the farmer, this farmer seems quite wasteful, doesn’t he? He seems to be throwing lots of seed in all directions that becomes wasted. But wait! Think about it. Isn’t that what we are called to do as a Christian? We are to spread the word everywhere, far and wide, as much and as often as possible, because we may never know where the seed of the Word needs be sown. So we are to scatter it everywhere!

Jesus doesn’t want his disciples—and us—to back off. Far from it! He wants us to keep sowing those seeds, keep sharing the good news. You may never know whether the patch of soil in front of you is fertile or infertile. The only way to find out is to send a handful of seeds flying this way and that way and see if anything comes of it.

So often, however, if we share the Good News at all, it’s likely someone safe—someone we already know—and that is definitely backing off! If that’s the our evangelism, then how on earth can a church grow—let alone, make up for the losses that come from an aging demographic and a falling birth rate? Once upon a time, we could count on growing Christian families to boost the church’s membership. But no longer. Jesus is saying, “Don’t be shy about spreading your faith. Take up a great, but handful of those faith-seeds and let ‘em fly!”

That’s Jesus instruction; some seeds might sprout right away, others might take a while. Sometimes a seed may, for whatever reason, lay dormant in the ground for a time, then unexpectedly begin to grow. Most of the time, we never fully know or appreciate what impact our words or actions will have on another person’s life. But that’s no reason to stop trying.

It’s all about the grace of God Almighty—in sustaining the growth, in boosting the harvest. It’s not about us. All we have to do is meet God halfway! So scatter the good seed of the Gospel—everywhere—and God will do the rest.