Tim Helwege

 

Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain–first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” 

 

Reflection:

Have you ever had a moment in life where you realized that your presence wasn’t really all that important? For me, it was in the 7th grade. I had my first ever audition for the school play to have one of the lead roles. I wound up not getting the role but ended up being placed in a role as a “monster in the background.” And while I remember my initial devastation of not getting the lead character role in the play, I remember loathing the thought of being on stage in a role that had three total lines and seemed to have no significance to the story at all. The play came and went, and I remember afterwards being so confused by the people who came up to me and said, “You did such a great job! You really set the tone.” Bewildered, I thought they were just giving me a compliment to make me feel better.

As I look back on that brief memory, I can’t help but think about how much my ego was shot by having to simply stand in the background. And I would be hard pressed to let the story end there. Nowadays I think even more about how 12-year-old me played a significant part in a play by being in the background. Not on center stage, but simply helping set the stage for the real magic to happen. 

This could be one thing Jesus is trying to communicate in this parable. Whether or not the man got up to work, the seeds that he sowed grew. If he sat and did nothing, they grew. If he labored all day, they grew. A somewhat interesting paradox. But what I think Jesus is really communicating here is that the man really isn’t the main focus of the story at all. You see, at the beginning of the parable he says, “This is what the Kingdom of God is like.” And shows us that whether or not we labor or rest, strive or sleep, toil or relax the Kingdom of God will still move. And the greatest honor of it all is that God graciously invites us to be a part of it moving on this earth. Our only true role then, is to humbly accept the invitation. 

So, yes, the truth is you are not THAT important. Whether you choose to work or do nothing, the Kingdom of God will still move and grow. What a beautiful release! But God, in God’s gracious and loving ways, still invites us to come and take part. Because the truth of the Gospel is that we were never meant to take center stage. That was meant to be Jesus’ from the very beginning.

 

Prayer:

 

All-powerful God, thank you for reminding me that this life is really not about me. Help me to humbly play my role as your servant today in the full understanding that you could very well use someone else. Even though you don’t need me, you still delight in me so much that you want me to be a part of your Kingdom crashing into this earth. Thank you. Show me what it looks like to be the best background character I can be today, and to give you all the glory, honor, and praise in the process. Amen.