The Parable of the Reckless Farmer

Throughout the summer so far, we have had some hard texts about difficulties of following and the cost of discipleship. Ready or not, the call comes from Jesus. Like his disciples long ago, Jesus does not wait until we are ready or qualified when he issues the call. This call can bring persecution and division right into the family. In some of these hard texts, it has been hard to find the “good news.” But it is always there.

We took a bit of a “break” from the hard texts when we got to July 5th. Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We also took a look at how God is working in TWO kingdoms (secular and sacred) at the same time. But now last week and this week, the focus changes to HOW Jesus brings the Kingdom of God. How does growth happen? Jesus has strange sounding methods. He lets weeds and wheat grow together, rather than eliminating pesky and harmful weeds. This week we hear how Jesus plants. Like a reckless farmer, he spreads precious (and expensive) seeds, here, there and everywhere. How could any farmer expect growth from a planting method like this? The words from Isaiah 55 come back to mind: “My ways are not your ways, says the Lord.” But still, how can one expect growth from such a planting method? The harvest, however, at the end of the parable is tremendous. A thirty-fold harvest would be outstanding. Jesus promises a thirty, sixty, even hundredfold harvest! This is what we will need to explore on Sunday.

Usually, we hear this parable and wonder, “what kind of soil am I?” It is a natural question and worth thinking about. However, the truth is that EACH of us are ALL four kinds of soil at different times in our lives.