How to Make Something Out of Nothing
There is a lot of scripture that I find puzzling or difficult to grasp. When I am really seeking God's direction, however, He reveals their meaning in many different ways. My favorite is when He uses other stories in scripture to reinforce the principle. One such principle is the mustard seed parable. The kingdom of God is like the smallest seed that becomes the biggest tree and the birds come and perch in it's branches. I've been thinking a lot about seeds and how Jesus used seeds in His teaching. The parable of the sower and the many different conditions of the soil which speaks of the different conditions of those who hear the word of God, the seed.
I've often wondered about the significance of the mustard seed and why the kingdom of God can be compared to the tiny seed which becomes a massive tree. If the word of God is the seed as it is in the parable of the sower, then having that word take root and multiply and become a huge tree makes perfect sense. Thinking of the early church and how it was just a bunch of uneducated men who were given the words of God directly from the Son of God. They witnessed His life, His death, His burial and His resurrected body. They knew the word of God was true and their faith however small or great spread God's word far and wide. Their acts of faithfulness in sharing God's word have stood the test of time and the tree continues to grow to this day.
I think the same is true of the local church when it is ministering to the needs of the community and teaching God's word with boldness. I see it in action in the church I have started attending. The very first day I felt welcomed. It is a church that reaches out to the community and loves the people. The pastor teaches God's word without apology and we see many come to faith in Jesus weekly. The seeds church members sow with their neighbors, coworkers, family and strangers are just small things that have the potential to change entire families for eternity. The tree is indeed still growing.
God is like that isn't He? I think of the story of Jesus in the temple standing by the collection box and the widow puts in her last coin. Its all she has. It isn't even worth much, but Jesus says her gift is greater than the gifts given by the pharisees who are wealthy. God doesn't need our money. He wants our hearts. Jesus knew the heart of the woman was one of faith, and love for her God. She didn't give out of obligation, but love and a gratful heart for the life she was living. It was probably a struggle every day for her to get food, but she still gave her mite. In the hands of God it became a MIGHTY Mite. We talk about this woman today 2,000 years later. We don't know her name, but we know her heart.
Imagine Jesus blessing her some small way that day. Can you see it? I sure can. Maybe she went home and there was food left on her door step by some stranger. Maybe she found a bag of gold on her walk home. Or maybe it was something as simple as the kind smile of her savior and her God as he talked about her faithfulness in front of the crowd. God loves to talk about His children and brag on us. Just look at how he bragged on Job when Satan was seeking to take the man down. God knew Job's heart. He was confident in him and allowed Satan to test him.
When I was thinking about this topic today on my walk, I found it fascinating that one thought lead to another and another and it just grew! The kingdom of God is a living organism. It grows because it is made up of those who are alive in God. It can't help but grow because the Spirit of God causes it to grow. In our growing we sow seeds of faith, hope and love to those around us. These are the seeds that are talked about in the parable of the sower. Everything God does and says has a purpose and a meaning. Thinking about how the very lessons of living a faith-filled life can be seen in creation all around us, confirms in me the truth of a creator who is above all things sovereign.
How many times do we see in scripture the small become great? The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is another example of God's bounty. Jesus took 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and not only fed 5,000 men and their families, but there were left overs. The crazy thing is, even if there were no fish or bread to be divided Jesus could still have fed the entire crowd. Talk about mighty! That miracle was a test for his disciples and a confirmation of his diety. Who but God could do such a thing?
Remember the widow whose husband died and left her in debt and her sons were going to be sold into slavery to pay their father's debt. Elisha told her to go and ask for jars from her neighbors and start filling them with oil. The oil filled jar after jar and he told her to sell the oil and pay the debt. Oh how God loves His children. Just think! I know it makes God happy to do such amazing things.
He gave a son to Sarah and another to Hannah. He made Joseph second to Pharaoh in Egypt when he had been a slave. He made Moses the greatest prophet in Israel, and made a shepherd boy a king! He sent his son as a baby to grow as man and lay down his life for the sin of the world, then raised Him to life again and conquer death! The greatest love story of all time from simple beginnings.
The kingdom of God is about taking the smallest and making it the greatest. We see this truth throughout scripture. How many times did God do this? This is why faith the size of a mustard seed is so huge. Not because the person exercising that faith is anything great by themselves, but the God who honors that faith is the greatest of all!
I have discovered in my own life the miracle of God's multiplication. The more generous I am with the little I have the more that seems to come back to me. It's crazy because I really have learned that money and possessions are not necessary for happiness. My apartment is sparsely furnished and I have discovered the joy of simplicity. God's provision is far more than I need every day and sometimes I feel overwhelmed by His generosity.
Imagine Jesus ready to dump blessings out on you when you least expect it. I imagine its like the guy in those videos who pretends to be in need and approaches a stranger who also is need and asks that stranger for help. When the stranger responds with kindness and selflessness the man reveals that he didn't need their kindness and then showers them with an overwhelming gift. That is what God is like. That is what the Kingdom of heaven is all about. It is a place where we can take comfort, shelter, and rest knowing that God has it all under control.
Spread those seeds. This tree is going to be huge!
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are"
Matthew 11:11 "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
Matthew 18:2-4 "He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 13:31-32 " He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
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