Lessons from the Parable of the Tares and Wheat
Main Text: Matthew 13:24-30
Key Scripture Verse:
But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and
sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away -
MT. 13: 25 (AMP)
What does it mean to ‘rest on your oars’?
- to be satisfied with your achievements and not to make an effort to do anything else:
- To feel comfortable because you have been successful in the past:
- Satisfied and complacent.
- self-fulfilled within self-satisfaction
- Satiety (as in satiated); triumphalism (pride)
(Reference:
Cambridge dictionary)
What questions could you have been asking in your pathetic situation?
Has God forgotten me? God gave
me this child/job/wife, why am I having troubles?
Whatsoever your
questions are, you are not alone. The servants would have wondered how those
tares could have come to be; in a vineyard owned by God.
“Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have
weeds?” (Matthew 13:27).
•
The world is full of ills because the devil is
an enemy of good – and
this world is his playground But through it all, God is not caught unaware
He said to them, ‘An
enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and
gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you
also uproot the wheat with them. (Matthew 13:28-29)
Why would God tell them not to pluck the ills out yet?
•
God has a master plan
It’s not what happens around us that matters but how we respond to what happens in us wherewithal whatsoever is happening around us.
•
While
growing next to wheat, tares (darnels) cannot be distinguished from real wheat. It is not until near the time of harvest that you can discern
which of the two the real item is.
•
Issues
of life that are wheat can appear as tares; while tares can appear as wheat
Life challenges could arise to fire us and test our true nature
•
Every ill has an expiry date (Rev. 12:9 tells us the devil, who deceives the world,
will be cast out at the end of days)
•
The Lord knows who are His (2 Timothy 2:19 - Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that
are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity).
•
The Lord expects us to stay on track and not get
corrupted until the time is fulfilled.
What is expected while waiting?
“Let both grow
together until the harvest…” (Matthew 13:30a)
While waiting, there’s so much room for growth. It is in the
process of growth that we become all God intends for us. There will be pruning,
polishing and molding in the process.
If flowers don’t grow, they won’t become as beautiful as they
are. Therefore, we cannot afford to settle.
There are many things at stake coming ahead of us… So much God can do
with our lives.
Be not like the reapers who went to sleep… (Matthew 13:25) Let’s
not be contented with what we have achieved … Prepare and be ready every moment
as if the Lord of the harvest is at the door.
Shall we pray?
May the Lord endow us with the grace and enablement not to
settle for less; for there is room for us to grow; such growth we claim with
the capacity for us to contain.
Lord, we want more of you, we want more of your encounters.
Enlarge our capacity; enlarge our coast such that we would be prepared and
positioned to receive all you have in store for us.
All these we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Call to ACTION
What would
you do differently this week?
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Summary - Lessons from the Parable of the Tares and Wheat
•
God has a master plan and a great purpose for
us.
•
The world is full of ills; which may happen to
anyone.
•
Through it all, God is not caught unaware. He
still cares.
•
The Lord knows who are His and expects us to
persevere
•
Every ill has an expiry date and every good has
a rewarding date.
•
While persevering, keep growing and don’t
settle.
