Learning from the Mustard Seed

Part 3: Trusting in God’s Providence

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Another essential step toward the fruitfulness described here is trusting God to provide the resources we need. The only way to get there is via God’s provision; we must trust Him to achieve the full measure of fruitfulness He intends. We fall short if we rely solely on our own strength. 

Although seeds have their own supplies of nutrients to get them started, those supplies are far from sufficient to get them to the fruit bearing stage. Think about the time lapse image of seeds sprouting we examined in the last post; they immediately stretched out into the soil for nutrients and towards the sun for energy. They were able to grow into fruitfulness because they took those actions, innately relying on God’s providence. That continues after a plant sprouts; plants extend their roots toward water and some turn to track the sun as it moves across the sky.

We must do the same to reach the level of fruitfulness described in this parable. Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us that  “Blessed is anyone who trusts in Yahweh, with Yahweh to rely on. Such a person is like a tree by the waterside that thrusts its roots to the stream … it never stops bearing fruit” (New Jerusalem Bible). Jesus told us the same thing in Luke 12:22-32  and Matthew 6:24-34: we must trust that God will provide what we need to bear the fruit He designed us for. That frees us to focus on the work He called us to, on achieving His purposes. 

Scripture also tells us what happens if we rely solely on our selves: “Accursed be anyone … who relies on human strength and whose heart turns from Yahweh. Such a person is like scrub in the wastelands” Jeremiah 17:5-8 (New Jerusalem Bible). John 15:4 and 6 likewise tell us that “a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself;” those who does not abide/trust in Jesus “wither; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire and are burnt”(New Jerusalem Bible).

Learning from the Mustard Seed

Part 2: Extending Beyond Ourselves in Love

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Another step towards the fruitfulness described in this parable is reaching out into our environment.

We see that in the agricultural basis for this parable. Once a seed germinates it must extend itself into the soil and the air. It can’t bear fruit unless it goes beyond its shell and affirmatively engages its environment. No extension, no fruit.

Jesus teaches His disciples to do the same. He taught folks that came to Him (and us) to be light in our parts of the world, something that requires us to engage our environment. Matthew 5:14-16.  He taught his first disciples (and us) to actively reach beyond ourselves to help others. Matthew 25:31-46,  Luke 10:30-37. He gave us the great commission, a commission that can only be fulfilled by extending ourselves. Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8.  He sent His first disciples out into the area where they had been planted in ways that required them to extend their faith by taking it to others in complete reliance upon God’s provision. Scripture shows us the fruit that resulted from that.  Luke 10:1-9, 17-19.

 Jesus’ apostles likewise taught that we must reach out to and actively engage our environment. They taught that we must actively support each other within the church. Romans 12:19, Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 6:18, James 1:14-16. They also taught that we must help those in distress, both in and outside of the church, Hebrews 13:3, James 1:27, James 2:14-17,  1 John 3:17-19. They also taught that we must be ready to engage folks who are attracted to the faith. Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 3:15-16.  All of those things require that we move beyond ourselves and into our environment

In short, the implicit logic of this parable, Jesus’ consistent teaching in other contexts, and the Apostles' teachings all tell us the same thing—we must affirmatively reach out and engage our world to reach the high level of fruitfulness the parable describes.

Learning from the Mustard Seed

Part 1: Surrendering to Transformation

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Jesus paints a wonderful picture of fruitfulness in this parable. This and several following posts examine the steps towards fruitfulness implicit in this parable.

The first is to let go and let God transform us. The mustard seed must germinate before it can grow into the fruitfulness Jesus describes here. A time lapse view of a seed germinating shows the seed losing its previous nature. It loses its dryness by absorbing water, swells, and breaks far beyond the shell that was its outer limit. In other words, the seed is transformed, its old nature is replaced.

That is essential.  As Jesus explained in John 12:24  “unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies,” i.e. surrenders its previous existence via germination,  “it yields a rich harvest.”   

That is not an easy process. Human nature rebels against it and Jesus Himself struggled with it. See John 12:27, Matthew 26:37-44, Mark 14:34-39, Mark 15:34.    

But we can get through it; God promises that. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Jesus modeled several specific techniques for dealing with the difficulty involved.  He focused on the tremendous good on the other side of the process. John 12:24, Hebrews 12:2. He asked God to help Him through it, and the Father honored that. John 12:28, Luke 22:41-44. He directly faced the difficulty involved without delay or evasion. Matthew 26:45-46, Mark 14:41-42 , John 18:3-5.  He focused on how He could help others as He was going through it. Luke 22:49-51, Luke 23:34, Luke 23:39-43, John 18:7-8.