MORE THAN JUST A SEED
The Kingdom of Heaven – is God’s rule invading the world and setting everything right.
The kingdom redefines everything, including:
- Power and status → serving others
- Ethics → love enemies
It is countercultural and offensive to every ideology and political ethos – because it requires us to submit our lives and our values to something higher than our own benefit or our own preferences – it is the Kingdom of Heaven – the Kingdom of God – not the Kingdom of Destiny.
Unlike human kingdoms, it is built not on force or domination but rather love, service, sacrifice and transformation.
The Parables are always first about him – and then about us. Because we are incorporated into his story through his sacrifice.
“The “kingdom of heaven” is:
- God reclaiming His world through Jesus
- Inviting people into a radically different way of living
It is both:
- A present reality
- A personal invitation to transformation”
– Dr. Tim Mackie
But it is the most confrontational of all messages because it asks all of us a question – will you submit your life to the Jesus way and will I allow his story to redefine every aspect of mine – identity, relationships, motives, values, preferences
The good news – is the news that Jesus came and brought something brand new and died for our right to access this new AND all of his teachings
And his teachings center around the idea that we are part of a bigger story and by laying down our life, or submitting our way to his, we can be a part of something bigger.
And over and over again Jesus gives parables about the way that this plays out in our lives and begins those parables with the Kingdom of Heaven is like …
This is one of those parables …
Matthew 13:31-33 NIV
31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Let’s look at some layers of how this story speaks to us:
- Small things matter – daily habits show up in massive impact
- Change is possible – who you are today isn’t who you can be
- Change requires sacrifice – the seed cannot be a tree by staying the same – requires sacrifice of present form for future possibility
I love mustard – when I studied in France as an undergraduate, I stayed with a family who had their own salad dressing and the base was mustard. In case you didn’t know – mustard is ground up mustard seeds with a liquid to make a paste.
What I’ve learned is that mustard is essential to all sorts of cuisines world wide from India to China to Europe to central and western African countries – even here in Louisiana mustard is an essential ingredient in remoulade sauce – its so important we even have a sauce called creole mustard that gets slathered on sandwiches and poboys and beyond. The mustard plant is one of the earliest known cultivated herbs. The seeds are flavorful yes – but also nutrient dense.
It seems like great fun to be a mustard seed – to be a showy ingredient, mixed up with some of the high flyers of international cuisine, making a mark on tastebuds everywhere. After all – you only get to be a mustard seed once right. It’s your only mustard seed life. Maximize!
The problem of course is that one mustard seed doesn’t make much mustard. Alone, it’s a smudge.
But a mustard seed that foregoes that pursuit of individual glory – and instead is planted deep in the cold earth for a time, produces something completely different.
A mustard seed produces a mustard plant – or tree.
And this tree produces between 1,200-2,000 seeds per year. Enough for a couple bottles of mustard plus the leaves which can be eaten as well. In addition to its consumable properties, it is as Jesus noted a staple in the garden and a place where birds could make their nest.
Did you know that mustard plants benefit the entire garden? They act as natural pest control, suppress weeds, prevent erosion, and attract beneficial insects with their flowers. They improve soil structure and health and are considered a “miracle” plant for sustainable gardening. They pull nutrients from the ground and make them more available for every single plant around them.
And when we choose to plant ourselves in the ready soil of God’s kingdom – when we choose to lay down our own way and choose God’s way – we too become more than a mustard seed.
A mustard seed is enough – Jesus makes it clear that if we have faith that is small like a mustard seed – it’s enough when planted in the ready soul of our lives. It’s enough to move mountains!
And if we imagine ourselves to be the mustard seed, we too can take our own lives and plant them into ready soil and allow ourselves to grow and be transformed into something that God can use to sustain and care for and impact others for generations to come.
It makes me think about Psalms 1 – my mom’s favorite Psalm – or at least the one she read to us most!
Psalms 1:1-3
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Planting means turning our back on the behaviors and habits of the past, of the world, and choosing instead to be planted in God’s ways.
Choosing to be planted in the Kingdom of God
Choosing God’s view on everything:
- Accepting his definition of greatness: serving others
- Accepting his command to forgive and even to love our enemies – the ones who seek our very demise
And then allowing that way to permeate how we live, and speak, and post and exist.
Question for our lives:
Are you planted?
Are we seeking out the ready soil?
Three things show we are planted:
- Time – how do we spend our time that we are free to spend? Do we prioritize the kingdom – caring for others, leaning in to God’s words, being part of community? What do we listen to when we can listen to anything? It’s not legalism – it’s not evil – it’s an indicator of our planting.
It takes time! It’s not an overnight transformation.
- Treasure – how do we spend our money? How do we use our expertise? Where our treasure is – there our heart will be. Do we see ourselves as owners or stewards of our funds, abilities, gifts? Do we give only what is worthless to us? If you have accounting as a gift, how do you use it to serve the kingdom? If you have income as a gift, how do you use it to serve the kingdom? And is that question irritating or invigorating? When we have given our life up – when we are planted – giving our best becomes exciting not punishing.
- Tribe – who do we surround ourselves with? Ex: Couple that wanted to plant themselves in the kingdom, but just so attached the friends of the past that they never could stick. It’s not that those friends have to be left behind but at some point you have to prioritize people and community that shares your mission if you want to be planted. And it can be cold and lonely at first – but then things start to shift!
Planting is often uncomfortable – it forces and is intended to force change.
This is the kingdom way – choosing God’s way over our own. And this is the model of Jesus.
John 12:23 NLT Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
See this parable is also a teaching and a prediction of what Jesus would do for us – instead of becoming an earthly king, he would lay down his life, plant himself so we could have shelter and life and a new identity as children of God.
Romans 8:28-29 NIV And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
He is speaking to us about himself and us – a picture of who he would be – who he is – and who we can choose to be too.
Don’t just be a mustard seed – plant yourself and be something more – for your community, your family, the generations and the kingdom.