From the Pastors Devotional The Parable of the Grain of Wheat Our Lord Jesus is a master of parables and illustrations. Among His many observations of the circumstances of life, Jesus draws His parables from agriculture and nature (mustard seed, tares and the wheat, flowers of the field etc.), from work (dishonest steward, labourers in the vineyard, rich fool, etc), social issues (dishonest judge, thief in the night, good Samaritan, etc.) and weddings and feasts (bridegroom’s guest, ten virginsa, wedding garment, etc.). The list of parables is not limited to these categories of course. The parable of the grain of wheat is drawn from agriculture. How can a grain of wheat tell us about life and God’s Kingdom? Much in every way. Firstly, only by death comes life (John 12:24). Every farmer in Jesus’ day knew that hidden within the grain of wheat is life. This life can only be released if the wheat grain is planted in the soil. Its outer layer dies and life springs out of the dead kernel. Many a times our personal ambitions, our selfish pride, our besetting sin and selfish gains serve to imprison the life that is to be lived for God. The seed must be buried – we must be willing to bury these hindrances. The seed must die – these hindrances must not just be hidden by the veneer of a righteous or holy appearance, they must die. Paul admonished us to “mortify the deeds of the body” in order to live. This is a paradoxical statement that reinforces the death of the wheat grain. It is always because men and women in their service to God have been prepared to die to self that great things have been achieved. This is the life that brings forth much fruit. So are there hindrances in our life that prevents us from living a full spiritual life for God? Are we willing to let go of these hindrances and ask the Spirit of God to help us put these to death? Secondly, life can only be retained for eternity if it is well spent (12:25). The life that emerges from the death of self must be well spent for God. We are not called to rocking chair spirituality, or a static form of holiness. We are called to spend and be spent for Christ. Paul reflects this godly attitude when he said, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you” (2 Cor 12:15). Jesus was using a hyperbole as a means of comparison (which is a typical form of Jewish expression to highlight an important point) when he speaks of hating one’s life. He had mentioned about “hating one’s parents and one’s family members (Luke 14:26) as a prerequisite to discipleship. In other words, a person’s love for God is so great that compared to loving one’s parents and family members, it is like hate. So a person’s commitment to Christ’s kingdom is so great that it is like not caring for his or her own life. In doing so, not only do we have a life that emerges from death but a life that is lived to the fullest because it is well spent for Christ. Thirdly, greatness comes when the life that arises from the dead is lived for Christ and spent for Christ (12:26). In the secular business world, people work hard with an intention of getting as much worldly gains out of it. Many will indeed succeed but at what cost if God is out of the picture? Jesus spoke of a higher business, which is His Father’s (Luke 2:49). The business of the Father involves the attitude of servanthood and obedience. The Jews in Jesus’ day viewed glory as acquisition of power and conquest. They were looking for a Messiah who would lead them to kick out Roman rule. The way of the Cross is the way of servanthood and obedience to the Father’s biding. The Jews would not accept the Father’s way. What a loss! To any who chooses to do so, such humble service leads to greatness – to be in the presence of Jesus and to receive the Father’s honour. In conclusion, let us take heed to the wisdom of our Lord in this parable. Only by death comes life. This life lived for Christ and spent for Christ receives the rewards of the Son’s presence and the Father’s honour. Pastor Peter Lam
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 12:35:20 +0000
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