Planting Wheat Not Beanstalks

The well-known fairy-tale of Jack and the Beanstalk tells of a young boy who sells the family’s last cow for three magic beans.

While Jack’s beanstalk reaches the heavens in overnight success simultaneously gaining him adventure and wealth it does not provide him lasting value. Yes, he obtains a hen that lays golden eggs and a harp that plays beautiful music, but his adventure is quickly ended and only his temporary needs met.

What of Jack’s soul?

In planting the seed of God’s word in our children’s hearts we desire to plant a kernel of wheat that will one day produce “much fruit.”

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. ~John 12:24-26

Many parents might look at their job as watering the planted word of God. Perhaps they consider the pastors and directors, the volunteers and teen workers at church to be the planters of the seed of God’s word.

I believe that some parents have Jack and the Beanstalk mentality. Sunday, Wednesday, and VBS+ Youth trips then voila!…A fully matured fully devoted Christ-follower by age 18.

This is not the case.

Our job concerning tending the soil of our children’s hearts is an utmost priority. The church helps water the seeds we plant but we are charged with the task of cultivating the soil, planting the seed (on a daily basis), and ensuring that “weeds” (e.g. ways of the world) do not kill our crops.

Christ will make sure that the seed grows and matures. He has commanded us to tend it. Families and the church are the team God uses to do His work in the lives of our children.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. ⁹For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. ~1 Corinthians 3:6-9

⁴“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[b] ⁵You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. ⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. ~Deuteronomy 6:4-9

We as parents read the word of God to our children and our lives are the Bible they first experience. How we live conveys what we believe concerning the Bible, God’s grace, and the importance of living in obedience to His commands.

Noone and no family is perfect. Even in our imperfections the Lord chooses to redeem the souls of our children. Amen!

Last Wednesday Emily graduated from her first year as a Cubbie Bear in the Awana Program. She excitedly dressed for the final awards ceremony in a Sunday dress, Princess Aurora clip-on earrings, and a glitzy heart necklace. She and her fellow Cubbie Bear’s ecstatically received their awards complete with a painted glove conveying the gospel message.

Each week the Cubbies had been taught the corresponding verses with the gloves and they cherished their own glove awarded to them as if you had given them keys to their first car.

Thank you Ms. Diane, Ms. Melissa, and all the Cubbie leaders for watering the seedlings in your care each week. Our Cubbie Bear loved it!