Sunday January 30, 2011

Last in the series: Don’t spend your life, invest your life!1

Genesis 1:11-12, 20-22, 24-26, 29

Then God said, “Let the land burst forth with every sort of grass and seed-bearing plant.  And let there be trees that grow seed-bearing fruit.  The seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And so it was.  The land was filled with seed-bearing plants and trees,  and their seeds produced plants and trees of like kind.  And God saw that it was good.  And God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”  So God created great sea creatures and every sort of fish and every kind of bird.  and God saw that it was good.    Then God blessed them, saying, “Let the fish multiply and fill the oceans.  Let the birds increase and fill the earth.” …And God said, “Let the earth bring forth every kind of animal — livestock, small animals, and wildlife.”  And so it was.  God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to reproduce more of it’s own kind.  And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves.”  male and female he created them.  God blessed them and told them, “Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it.”

Mark 4:14-20

The farmer I talked about is the one who brings God’s message to others.  The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the message, but then Satan comes at once and takes it away from them.  The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and recieve it with joy.  But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep.  At first they get along fine, but the wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.  The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all to quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for nice things, so no crop is produced.  But the good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s message and produce a huge harvest — thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”

The way you’ll know if you’re good soil:

If you reproduce this seed of God’s message in others.

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Another way to phrase “multiply yourself”:

Find one or two people you can love and develop for Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1-2

You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

The surprising insight is that multiplication:

Isn’t so much doing things, as it is investing in people.

Luke 10:1-3, 17-19, 21, 23-24

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them on ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.  These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.  Pray to the lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields. When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully  reported to him, “Lord, evven the demons obey us when we use your name!” “Yes” he told them, “I saw Satan falling from heaven as a flash of lighning! And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy.” Then Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike… Then when they were alone, he turned to the disciples and said. “How privileged you are to see what you have seen.  I tell you, many prophets and kings have longed to see and hear what you have seen and heard, but they could not.”

How can you get started?

1. Overcome your fears and self-doubts.

2. Take the initiative!

3. Share and encourage what you do know.

4. Ask God for help to choose people who will teach others.

5. Laugh, celebrate and share your triumphs.