By Chalcedony Williams
Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.”
Mark 4:26-29 NLT
Have you ever played the “blame game”? The blame game is when people decide to point out the faults of others in a tricky situation, rather than looking at their own actions and the part they had to play. The blame game allows us to feel absolved of responsibility when things go wrong. Since the beginning of time, human beings have been playing the blame game. Just look at Adam and Eve after they were deceived. We love to pass the buck onto the next person, even when it is someone we are supposed to love. Funnily enough, the blame game has a counterpart, we call it the “credit game”. The credit game is when we want recognition for all the good we have done. If the blame game is about passing on our shame, the credit game is all about feeding our pride. We love it when others tell us how great we are. And yet, scripture tells us clearly that only God is great.
God has all power, wisdom, and authority. He has seen all of time, and He orchestrates everything according to His will. Before the foundation of the world, He established His Kingdom. So, all of history from “Let There Be Light” until now has simply been carrying out that plan. That is what Jesus’ parable in today’s scripture is all about.
Jesus tells us that the Kingdom is like a farmer who scatters seed. The seed takes root and sprouts and grows, forming a full crop that is ready for harvest. This seems like a completely automatic process, regardless of whether the farmer is awake or asleep. We see this in nature. Plants and trees grow spontaneously, sometimes in the most hostile of environments and with no input from any human being. Plants also fail to grow and fail to thrive no matter how much attention and care is put into them. The process is, in many ways, beyond our control. And so, it is with the Kingdom.
The message is not for us to be asleep on the growth and expansion of God’s Kingdom. As co-labourers in God’s vineyard, we all have our part to play. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, some people plant, others water, but it is God who grants the increase. Why does God do it this way? Probably because, in His wisdom, God knows just how much we love to play the credit game. We love to big ourselves up and consider ourselves to be super spiritual because of how “successful” we have been in ministry. We love platforms and influence, and power. Look at how many mega-pastors there are in this world with mass following and wonder who would these people be if this were all taken away?
Despite whom we think is in charge, God is building His Kingdom using the foolish and weak and unimpressive things and people of this world. All He asks of us is to trust and obey. To be willing and ready. To be humble stewards of the little He entrusts to us. As we do that, He will complete the work and produce a wonderful harvest for Himself. All the glory, all the praise and all the credit belong exclusively and rightfully to Him and Him alone.
Ask: What is wrong with the blame game and the credit game?
Seek: In what ways have you tried to take credit for something that God is doing?
Knock: Take a moment to reflect on all the areas of ministry you are a part of, whether that’s cleaning the church, serving the community or leading a congregation. In prayer, commit the work to God and ask Him to humble you and to make you a good steward of His ministry.
