SermonsbyWagner.com

A journalist was interviewing the CEO of General Motors recently and he asked him this question; “Do you expect that in the future you will no longer be the largest automobile corporation in the world?” The CEO responded by saying, “We may no longer be the largest, but we hope to be the best.”

General Motors is the largest corporation in American history to declare bankruptcy. It seems hard to believe that a company which has been familiar as baseball and apple pie is no longer a viable business. It’s not the first time a major company has gone under. The same fate has happened to others too, like Enron and Citibank. In Dayton, Ohio, NCR, which has been in the Dayton area for over 100 years is moving to Georgia. Although they haven’t gone bankrupt, they are breaking their ties with the community that has kept them in business for over a century.

In our society we have a “bigger is better” mentality, but historically large companies do not last indefinitely. I believe they get so large they become impossible to manage. They become out of control, losing sight of their original vision.

Jesus was telling his followers that we won’t find the kingdom of God in mega size proportions. The kingdom of God is found in the simple and ordinary. In these two parables, Jesus is comparing the Kingdom of God to small seeds that are planted. They grow over time and the planter does not know how. That’s because the one planting the seeds is not in control, God is. The parables describe God’s Kingdom as a mysterious, silent but promising entity.

Jesus was encouraging disciples who felt powerless and helpless to make a difference in the world. They were no match for the powerful Roman Government or the Jewish faith. He reassured them that bigger was not better, rather, great things can happen with the tiniest amounts of faith. The disciples didn’t need to feel inadequate or powerless since God will produce amazing results as long as they remain faithful.

Jesus was offering hope to the hopeless and blessings to the faithful. However, to be blessed is not equated with success or prosperity. To be blessed is to receive eternal life, to be infinitely blessed in the kingdom of God.

The faithful are those who first plant seeds. One does not just sit idly by and watch God work. Planting seeds requires some investment of our time and talents.

The country singer, Reba McIntire tells about several people in her life who planted seeds to encourage her singing career. First there was her mother, who encouraged her to use her gift of singing. Then there was her second grade teacher, Mrs. Kanton, who helped her learn the song, “My Favorite Things” from Sound of Music. Reba’s grandmother planted seeds in her too, only they were the stories from the bible she taught Reba when they went fishing together. She told her about David, who was a songwriter and she told her of other bible characters who had courage and faith. On their way to her singing debut in Nashville her mother said, “God gives us all our own special gifts, and He’s given you yours for a reason. Now you have to learn to use it.” (from Guideposts for the Spirit, 2003, Ideal’s Publications)

The faithful are also those who trust that God will recognize their talents, no matter how insignificant they might think they are. Recently, a 47 year-old singer from Scotland, by the name of Susan Boyle, surprised the entertainment industry. Since she was so homely, unfashionable and ordinary, no one expected her to have any talent but she surprised everyone with an amazing singing voice. Although she didn’t win the talent contest she became quite the rave around the world with her talent. Susan Boyle was virtually unknown until she entered the talent show. Imagine the courage it must have taken her to take that step. Anyone can plant a seed and we never no how far reaching our efforts might be.

Soon we will be having our vacation bible school. Do you know how it all began? In 1894, Sunday School teacher D.T. Miles, who was a public school teacher, felt she was limited by time constraints in teaching bible to children in school. So, she started a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer. The first Bible School enrolled forty students and lasted four weeks. In 1898, Eliza Hawes, director of the children’s department at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City, started an “Everyday Bible School” for slum children at a rented beer parlor in New York’s East side. Dr. Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society, became aware of Hawe’s summer program and recommended it to other Baptist churches. Boville established a handful of summer schools which were taught by students from Union Theological Seminary. In 1922 he founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School.

Like the tiny mustard seed, vacation bible school started from a single person who had a passion for teaching the Bible.

These two parables also tell us that what we do is not for ourselves but for others. In the parable of the mustard seed the bush became large enough to provide protection for the birds to make their nests. I believe the golden rule is implicit in the parable. Having faith is not about obtaining abundance for ourselves as many would suggest, having faith is doing what we can for the sake of others.

The beautiful hymn, “A Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” was written by a Scottish Minister, George Matheson. Matheson was totally blind. Just before he was to be married to his college sweetheart, someone told her of his blindness. Apparently she did not know until then that Matheson was totally blind.  She informed him that she did not wish to be married to a blind preacher.  Matheson later composed the hymn during his sister’s wedding. During that event he was reminded of his marital failure and the hymn reflects his feelings which included the peace he realized through the experience. Instead of writing about the rejection of an earthly lover, he wrote about the eternal love of God.

O love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul on Thee;

I give Thee back the life I owe,

That in Thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be.

Matheson captured the essence of these parables. The seed he planted with this hymn has inspired worshippers for decades. We are infinitely blessed when we realize that the seeds we plant will grow in marvelous ways with the grace of god. We are infinitely blessed when we learn that the kingdom of God is much powerful than any man-made corporation. We are infinitely blessed when the loving seeds we plant help others beyond our wildest dreams.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul's UCC, Sidney, Ohio