Matthew Chapter 13: Verses 27-30 (NLT Translation)
“The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to pull out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”
Its natural and right to want to respond to something which appears unjust or unfair, and to put it right if we can – or at least play a part in doing so. Yet because we don’t always know the whole story, its possible that we might be doing more harm than good if we jump in with all guns blazing. That’s why we need to have God’s guidance on the matter.
We might be champing at the bit and yet feel the check in our spirit that comes from the Holy Spirit Himself. We shouldn’t ignore it. God knows what He is doing and knows that there’s a time to move, but also a time to wait.
The workers in this parable were keen to put things right straight away, but the farmer knew that this wasn’t the right time so he told them to wait. However, the farmer also knew that at the right time, the problem would be put right.
That’s a lesson for us to learn. We might have to mark time for a while with regard to a problem, a plan, or a project, but we need to wait until we get the green light from God before we go ahead. That’s not an easy thing to do if, like me, you’re a bit impatient and you want things to happen now!
Dear God,
I ask for the grace to wait patiently when you tell me to wait. Patience is not one of my strong points. Thank you that there is always a lesson to be learned in the waiting. Teach me to look for that lesson, to learn it well, and to put it into practice.
I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.