Okay . . . I get it. Jesus gives a good explanation of what the parable of the sower means in our scripture reading. He states, “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means . . .” Then he lays it out in black-and-white. It is cut and dry. So, why are we even sitting here this morning? It seems like a wrap to me . . . except I belong to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and we have a firm belief that scripture is meant to be interpreted as each individual reads it. That is why I always put the statement in the newsletter about the “sermon preview”: Take a few minutes to prayerfully read this passage and see what God is saying to you. Come to worship on Sunday morning and hear what the pastor has to share. That is just good Disciples of Christ practice.
So, yep, go ahead and sit back because I have want to propose another way of looking at our reading this morning.
I want to talk about the sower . . . the person throwing the seed. I want us to consider the sower and the sower’s role in the story because I believe that it tells us a lot about God . . . and it just might change our understanding about God.
I will admit that I am not a farmer, but I have spent a good portion of my life around farmers. I have never met a farmer who thought that the method that the sower uses to grow a crop is useful or good. No, most the farmers—if not all of them—thought that the sower was pretty stupid in how he was spreading and planting the seeds. Not much method or planning to it . . . throw and scatter letting the seed land wherever it lands and see what grows. Not good stewardship. Probably expensive. Low yield. Reckless. Most farmers would agree that this method of farming will not produce a long career in agriculture.
It is all about the soil . . . right? Jesus tells of four soil types and only one of them is productive . . . the rest, well they just don’t work out. They don’t grow and become sustainable. But it doesn’t matter to the sower. The sower is out there pitching the seeds in all directions regardless of the soil it lands on. Reckless . . . yes but let us not get hung up on the negative connotation of the word—reckless. Reckless means “without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.” It is the “action” that is the telling point here. Reckless could also mean “daring, adventurous, and bold.” And what is taking place in this parable is exactly that . . . it is the recklessness of God and God’s love.
God may not be much of a farmer, but God is generous with God’s love and grace showering it upon everyone. That is the point when we view this parable from the sower’s eyes . . . a showering of God’s love and grace. God’s love and grace is for everyone . . . all of creation, and what better way to spread that love and grace than to just start flinging it in every direction allowing it to fall where it may. God loves us all. Loves us for who we are created to be. That is a whole lot of diversity seeing how none of us were created alike. Within that diversity is a whole lot of different understanding about God, God’s love, and grace, and how we—as individuals and as a group—relate to God.
Which brings us back to the point that Jesus is making about the soil . . . there are a whole bunch of different soil types and how the seed is received makes a big difference. Yet we know . . . Jesus knows . . . and God knows, that it still comes down to the individual as to whether or not growth will take place. It comes down to individual choice whether the seed is received and allowed to grow. And we also know that this occurs throughout our lives . . . that we are many types of soil throughout our lifetimes. But regardless of the type of soil, God isn’t going to stop flinging the seed and allowing it to fall wherever it lands. God is reckless with God’s love . . . it is for everyone regardless of the soil they might represent.
You must admit that is pretty daring, adventurous, and bold on the part of God. God desires a relationship with us. God loves us. Loves us for who we are. And, most importantly, God will never quit pursuing us nor will God abandon us. Is this not the story we read in our bibles? Is this not the message we receive from Jesus? Is this not the teaching the disciples shared? God wants us, loves us, and will never abandon us. Because of this God just flings it out there.
The soil makes no difference.
The point is that God is reckless with distributing God’s love and grace because God loves us. And, in return, we are to love others in the same way. We are to distribute God’s love in the same way that we received it . . . abundantly and recklessly regardless of who is receiving it. The rest is up to the recipient . . . the one who receives it.
Let us not beat around the bush . . . we know that this is true. We cannot control how others receive God’s love. All we can do is fling it out there and hope for the best. Thus, some is snatched away, some blooms before wilting away, and others bloom and die . . . and some, win the lottery and “produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
Though this act of God may seem reckless let us not forget that it is “intentional”. God loves each of us . . . all of us . . . with unconditional love. Remember that God’s love is dependable, faithful, and true. God promises to never leave us or forsake us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. God is passionate . . . daring . . . bold in showering love and grace on all of creation. And God is patient . . . God will wait. The Bible tells us: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9, N.I.V.)
We are the beneficiaries of God’s reckless love. Jesus tells us to go out and do likewise when it comes to following him . . . showering the world and its inhabitants with God’s love . . . to start flinging it! May we be bold, adventurous, and daring . . . reckless in our love as the followers of Jesus. Fling away, my friends, fling away. Amen.
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