Listen
The gospel text today begins with Jesus addressing the crowd and saying “Listen!” “Listen!”
Other translations use the words…“Let anyone with ears listen.” (Matthew 13:9).
When most of us begin our speaking by using the words, “Listen!” we are getting ready to say something important, or we are afraid that you may miss it. Pay attention is what we are really saying.
“Listen”, Jesus says, and proceeds to tell them all a parable about the sower and the seed. Most of us may be familiar with the parable and how the seed fell on different types of ground. And we can get caught up in maybe trying to discern what type of ground we are.
Even worse, we may get caught up in attempting to try to discern what type of soil the person next to us or around us is. “I am good soil - I hear the word and obey it”. “Now, Susan over there, she is rocky soil for sure!” We could use the parable to make us feel good about our own lives - “Well, I think I am pretty good soil, I am here today listening to this aren’t I?” “That says something”. “Or I am taking the time to read this.”
We had Vacation Bible School this past week. It was a good week - it always is. The children come eager to learn and eager to share. The final program each year is always special, parents and grandparents come to see what their child has learned. It is a week where we “sow” the word of God into the lives of these children and this community.
Our Gospel text this morning is about a sower and the seed that was sowed.
One commentator pointed out that 3/4 of all the seed the sower sowed didn’t produce anything. 3/4!! The sower spent most of his/her time putting down seed that didn’t produce anything. That is a disturbing statistic from this parable. 75% of your time will be spent sowing seed that will fall on soil that will not produce.
That is just a given from this parable. We are commanded and told to sow the word of God - this parable does not have us focusing on the outcome of the sowing. Outcome is what we are all trained to focus on. And it is interesting because in thinking through any passages where Jesus may have us focus on outcome, where Jesus told us that we would be responsible for the outcome, I could not think of any.
The emphasis is on the doing, and not assuming responsibility for the outcome of the doing.
Which is interesting. Because as we evaluate programs and attempt to determine the “success” of something; we always tend to focus on numbers of some sort to determine the success or failure of the event or program, or whatever it is we are doing.
Most of you who have worked with me closely or been around me personally very much have heard me use the terms, “Focus on the process and not the outcome.” Pay attention to what we are doing and how we are doing it- being faithful in those things, and releasing the outcome to God.
This is not just true in church work or what we do here as a congregation, but in all areas of life. We are a people, a nation, who have been taught, trained and reinforced to focus on the outcome. Recently I heard about EVU’s. EVU’ stands for Evaluative Value Unit, and it is a factor that is being used in determining a physicians worth and their time. Each minute that they spend with you (or without you) is being evaluated on its value to the system. Some of the things that you may value as a patient are not valued by the system because they are not generating revenue.
The kingdom of God, and how Jesus has called his disciples to operate, we are under a different EVU or Evaluative Value Unit. Our lives and how we spend our time may seem ludicrous to those around us at times.
Pay attention to the process. - Who we are, and what we do with what we are given. We can’t control the outcome of things. We can’t control our destiny and what God has for us, or what tomorrow will bring. But we can control the process - what we do - how we handle ourselves in each situation.
I am sure that there are many who are squirming. “Well, outcome does matter.” And outcome does matter - but I am not sure that we are responsible for it, nor can we control it.
Labor groups are formed when employees feel that the focus becomes so much on production and output and overlooks the employees rights or well-being. They are formed to try to protect the interests of the laborer.
When outcomes become important than the process of production, often people suffer.
The days may become longer; the pay become less. Companies focus on the least amount of pay they can give in order to get the job done, and concerns for the worker can go to the waste side.
How the stock is doing can become the litmus test for the entire company, with little attention focused on the worker. Doesn’t really matter does it, as long as the pockets of those investing in the company are lined. (You can see the dichotomy and how various interest groups form).
Jesus, in speaking of the Kingdom of God, continually tells us that the way that we view the world as his children, as his followers, would be different and often seem contradictory and be contradictory to the world.
Sometimes churches can get caught up in outcome, but rarely does it end in a healthy way has been my observation.
I believe it is sort of like the movie about the baseball field, “If you build it they will come.” Build because you are told to. Offer it. Be faithful in worship - be faithful in doing the things you know God has asked of you and leave the results to God.
“ Listen!”, Jesus says. Listen, is in present tense. It is active, not a one-time occurrence but continual. Keep listening. Listening is essential to discipleship.
To hear God’s Word is not a one-time occurrence but an ongoing characteristic of discipleship.
We often say that the Word of God is active. And what we mean by that, is that hearing God’s word has different effects on each of us at different times. Sometimes we may feel as if we are the sower, sometimes we may identify with the soil. The word of God is not fixed, not static, but dynamic.
In your listening, what did you hear? What did you experience in your listening today? Where are you in this parable? Or better yet, when and how have you felt all of these responses to God’s Word? And why? Our responses to God’s word are just as important as what it says. We are called to action, but we are not called to assume the responsibility for our actions… “God provides the increases”. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
Some will hear the word and understand it and will bear fruit with abundant yields. And if that response is only what we get a quarter of the time, that is not half bad.
We have all been in all of the situations described in the parable and its explanation at one time or another in our lives.
It’s not about how much fruit is produced. It’s about the way in which God’s Word has taken hold in you. This is not a competition about who hears God’s Word better. It’s about what the hearing creates in you.
It is truly not about the outcome, but the process of discipleship and being that matters; how you are changing along the way.
Amen.
Other translations use the words…“Let anyone with ears listen.” (Matthew 13:9).
When most of us begin our speaking by using the words, “Listen!” we are getting ready to say something important, or we are afraid that you may miss it. Pay attention is what we are really saying.
“Listen”, Jesus says, and proceeds to tell them all a parable about the sower and the seed. Most of us may be familiar with the parable and how the seed fell on different types of ground. And we can get caught up in maybe trying to discern what type of ground we are.
Even worse, we may get caught up in attempting to try to discern what type of soil the person next to us or around us is. “I am good soil - I hear the word and obey it”. “Now, Susan over there, she is rocky soil for sure!” We could use the parable to make us feel good about our own lives - “Well, I think I am pretty good soil, I am here today listening to this aren’t I?” “That says something”. “Or I am taking the time to read this.”
We had Vacation Bible School this past week. It was a good week - it always is. The children come eager to learn and eager to share. The final program each year is always special, parents and grandparents come to see what their child has learned. It is a week where we “sow” the word of God into the lives of these children and this community.
Our Gospel text this morning is about a sower and the seed that was sowed.
One commentator pointed out that 3/4 of all the seed the sower sowed didn’t produce anything. 3/4!! The sower spent most of his/her time putting down seed that didn’t produce anything. That is a disturbing statistic from this parable. 75% of your time will be spent sowing seed that will fall on soil that will not produce.
That is just a given from this parable. We are commanded and told to sow the word of God - this parable does not have us focusing on the outcome of the sowing. Outcome is what we are all trained to focus on. And it is interesting because in thinking through any passages where Jesus may have us focus on outcome, where Jesus told us that we would be responsible for the outcome, I could not think of any.
The emphasis is on the doing, and not assuming responsibility for the outcome of the doing.
Which is interesting. Because as we evaluate programs and attempt to determine the “success” of something; we always tend to focus on numbers of some sort to determine the success or failure of the event or program, or whatever it is we are doing.
Most of you who have worked with me closely or been around me personally very much have heard me use the terms, “Focus on the process and not the outcome.” Pay attention to what we are doing and how we are doing it- being faithful in those things, and releasing the outcome to God.
This is not just true in church work or what we do here as a congregation, but in all areas of life. We are a people, a nation, who have been taught, trained and reinforced to focus on the outcome. Recently I heard about EVU’s. EVU’ stands for Evaluative Value Unit, and it is a factor that is being used in determining a physicians worth and their time. Each minute that they spend with you (or without you) is being evaluated on its value to the system. Some of the things that you may value as a patient are not valued by the system because they are not generating revenue.
The kingdom of God, and how Jesus has called his disciples to operate, we are under a different EVU or Evaluative Value Unit. Our lives and how we spend our time may seem ludicrous to those around us at times.
Pay attention to the process. - Who we are, and what we do with what we are given. We can’t control the outcome of things. We can’t control our destiny and what God has for us, or what tomorrow will bring. But we can control the process - what we do - how we handle ourselves in each situation.
I am sure that there are many who are squirming. “Well, outcome does matter.” And outcome does matter - but I am not sure that we are responsible for it, nor can we control it.
Labor groups are formed when employees feel that the focus becomes so much on production and output and overlooks the employees rights or well-being. They are formed to try to protect the interests of the laborer.
When outcomes become important than the process of production, often people suffer.
The days may become longer; the pay become less. Companies focus on the least amount of pay they can give in order to get the job done, and concerns for the worker can go to the waste side.
How the stock is doing can become the litmus test for the entire company, with little attention focused on the worker. Doesn’t really matter does it, as long as the pockets of those investing in the company are lined. (You can see the dichotomy and how various interest groups form).
Jesus, in speaking of the Kingdom of God, continually tells us that the way that we view the world as his children, as his followers, would be different and often seem contradictory and be contradictory to the world.
Sometimes churches can get caught up in outcome, but rarely does it end in a healthy way has been my observation.
I believe it is sort of like the movie about the baseball field, “If you build it they will come.” Build because you are told to. Offer it. Be faithful in worship - be faithful in doing the things you know God has asked of you and leave the results to God.
“ Listen!”, Jesus says. Listen, is in present tense. It is active, not a one-time occurrence but continual. Keep listening. Listening is essential to discipleship.
To hear God’s Word is not a one-time occurrence but an ongoing characteristic of discipleship.
We often say that the Word of God is active. And what we mean by that, is that hearing God’s word has different effects on each of us at different times. Sometimes we may feel as if we are the sower, sometimes we may identify with the soil. The word of God is not fixed, not static, but dynamic.
In your listening, what did you hear? What did you experience in your listening today? Where are you in this parable? Or better yet, when and how have you felt all of these responses to God’s Word? And why? Our responses to God’s word are just as important as what it says. We are called to action, but we are not called to assume the responsibility for our actions… “God provides the increases”. 1 Corinthians 3:6-8
Some will hear the word and understand it and will bear fruit with abundant yields. And if that response is only what we get a quarter of the time, that is not half bad.
We have all been in all of the situations described in the parable and its explanation at one time or another in our lives.
It’s not about how much fruit is produced. It’s about the way in which God’s Word has taken hold in you. This is not a competition about who hears God’s Word better. It’s about what the hearing creates in you.
It is truly not about the outcome, but the process of discipleship and being that matters; how you are changing along the way.
Amen.