Just as God sends water upon the earth to accomplish His purposes by making the land fruitful, and with the expectation that it will not come back to Him without having benefitted others, so are we to do the same. We are tasked with the job of being fruitful with our brothers and sisters and nurturing them with the word of God through our actions and words. If we do not do so, we are missing the point of our very existence, and the reason God sent us among them. We live on this earth for now, and while here we build our lives by creating homes and families and friends. But this is all secondary, we are here for a very different purpose than just these comforts and joys of our earthly existence. We are a people of faith and purpose, we have faith in our Lord, and our purpose is to bring others to knowledge and relationship with Him because it is only through Him that they can find the way to salvation. We must do this by being an example in how we live, in the faith we profess (even when confronted by those hostile to it), and the service we give to others for God’s purpose. By doing this, we, like the water help to bring this fertile ground to those we encounter.
When Jesus spoke to those gathered and preached to them to parable about the seed that fell on different types of soil, it was obvious what the desired soil was in order to produce fruit. It needed to be rich, and deep and watered, and without the seeds of evil influence to compete and possibly choke what it should bring forth. Each time we provide an example to others by the way we live our lives according to God’s word, we enrich this soil. We increase its depth with our consistency. We moisten and soften it with the words given to us by our Lord. We remove the evil seeds by showing others the joys of living with and for God, and not participating in errant behaviors. We richen it by the kindness we show, and the beauty of the love we display for others who may very well be surprised to encounter this from those who are not expecting anything in return. There are many who have never encountered this before, and who may very well want to know more of how to live like this, with joy, and compassion, and love for all. To feel loved by us, and by the One who loves each of us best, and who will never fail us. To exist in a house that encompasses their brothers and sisters who also believe and who genuinely care about them and will be there for them. This is the purpose for each of us, to provide this experience and framework so that others can be saved and live joyfully along with us. To expand our families to include those are our brothers and sisters that we simply have not had the joy of knowing yet. Each day we have the possibility of meeting and embracing someone new to love, and to care about. If we can live like this, we are truly producing an abundant harvest, and fulfilling what God intended from the beginning for each of our lives.
The Deacons Bench 