LET IT GROW

Dr. Richard J. Henderson June 18, 2006

click for printable version

Psalm 20 (responsively)
Mark 4:26-34

Introduction

When I was a kid I decided to grow some plants. I wanted to start them inside and then transplant them out to the garden. As soon as I began, I realized that the soil was too rocky. There were big stones and smaller pebbles all through the soil. So I decided I would improve this soil. I picked out all the stones, but I went further and sifted out the smaller pebbles too. Then I thought, "I can make this even better." I sifted the soil even finer - no stones at all.

I put this carefully refined soil into pots and planted my seeds. I watered them and let them go for a couple of days. When I came back, expecting to see little sprouting plants, all I saw was soil that looked like dark brown concrete! I had taken out everything that kept the soil loose. My "improvements" made the soil hard as a rock.

If I had just planted the seeds in the soil the way I found it, I would have had sprouting plants. I thought I had to fix the soil and make it better. Sometimes we do things like that.

I

Jesus tells a parable about a seed. Someone scatters seed on the ground. He lets the seeds grow day and night, he sleeps and wakes, and all the time the seeds are growing. He doesn't know how. Eventually, they grow into full healthy plants. Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like this.

The reign of God grows by itself, even while we are sleeping. We may water the seed and weed around it to give it more space, but it grows on its own and we don't know how.

II

I think this parable says something about how we work with God to accomplish God's will. The parable is reassuring. God can accomplish his will even while we're sound asleep. Like the seed, God's kingdom will grow even if we do nothing. God isn't dependent on our hard work. In fact, sometimes our hard work to help God gets in the way. The Crusades come to mind!

This year the session is reading a book about worship and the life of the church. At the beginning the author makes an important point. He says that when we gather for worship, God's spirit is present. We know that Jesus said, "Whenever two or three gather together in my name, I am there in the midst of you." It is a given that God's Spirit is here when we worship.

Then the author says that sometimes the best we can do in worship is to clear the way so that nothing interferes with people experiencing that Spirit of God.

We can't produce the Spirit by our efforts; we can't force the Holy Spirit. We don't need to. But sometimes we need to get the clutter out of the way so that people can sense the Spirit that is present.

Several years ago we attended a friend's church on a Sunday morning. The minister and associate were seated in the chancel and the organ music played as people prepared for worship. But during this quiet time the associate pointed to people in the congregation and waved. All during this time of preparation for worship she waved and pointed and mouthed greetings to people in the congregation. It was distracting and got in the way of people experiencing God's Spirit. Sometimes, by trying to be friendly or cute we create clutter that hinders people from sensing God's presence.

III

So, should we just do nothing - sit back and let God do everything? Maybe take a good long nap? No. God calls us to work with him to do God's will. The seed needs someone to plant it, weed it, and water it.

There is a plaque in Margaret Schmidt's house that says, "Pray for a good harvest, but keep on hoeing." We have our part to do in the growth of God's kingdom.

But we also know that sometimes the best we can do is get out of the way. This parable points to how we can work together to do God's will:

Conclusion

I went to grade school with a boy whose parents pushed him in school. They not only encouraged him to get good grades, they pressured him. They made it clear early on they wanted him to go to Harvard. They told him what profession he should go into.

He got good grades in school. He let everybody know he was headed for Harvard. But when we graduated from High school, he didn't make it into Harvard. When he went away to school, he fell apart. His life has been in a spiral ever since. He disappointed his parents and himself.

His parents pushed and pushed. They defined who he was to be and what he was to be, and his life collapsed when he couldn't do it.

How much better it would have been if they had prayed that their son have a faithful, meaningful life using the unique gifts that God had given him. How much better if they had prayed for him to use the talents God gave him and supported him in his choice for where his life would go.

Sometimes, we mettle with the seed so much that we hinder its growth.

Amen

©Richard J. Henderson 2006