How would
you define success? How can success be guaranteed – and what is ‘success’
anyway? Can success be measured?
These are
pretty important question when it comes to the gospel ministry of Jesus Christ.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important news and truth anyone ever has
the opportunity to hear and deliver, as well as the most important decision
anyone ever has to make in their life, and about their life and eternal
destiny.
Again, with
the degree of importance known, shouldn’t we do all we can to emphasize success?
Jesus speaks
quite differently about His own gospel. He tells us our job is not to be
successful, but faithful.
The reality
is the success of the delivery cannot be immediately measured anyway, even with
what we may regard as an immediate and ‘good’ response. (That may all be washed
away fairly soon, by the devil, by circumstance, or by distraction.)
Another
point Jesus makes is to not be so careful about who we share the gospel with.
In telling
this parable of the soils, Jesus demonstrates a farmer who seems oblivious to
where the seed lands. Since this represents potentially wasteful behavior, we
are left to wonder what kind of farmer would throw his seed by the side of the
road, or on rock, or in a field filled with weeds, left uncultivated. What kind
of farmer concerned with results would do such a thing? What about the cost of
the seed that has been ‘wasted?’
There is an
absurdity to this parable if you happen to be a farmer concerned with producing
a crop. A good farmer spends a lot of their time studying how to get a higher
yield from his seed. A good farmer is concerned over the condition of the soil
prior to investing any seed in it. A good farmer would certainly never place
his seed anywhere a chance for success could not be somewhat guaranteed. The
emphasis is completely on the method which will bring the highest opportunity
for success.
Jesus says
when it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Word of God is to be scattered
far and wide, anywhere and everywhere. Success is not the issue but rather the
faithfulness to deliver it. (Truly, success can only be measured by God.) And,
the only cost of delivering the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the faith
required to do it.
-Pastor Bill
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