The Good and the Bad

Matthew 13:24-30

The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ 

We know from the daily headlines and our own experience that the world is a mixture or people whose behavior we can label as "good", and others, "bad".  We rub shoulders with them all the time, and often see them prospering despite their bad behavior. Does it make us jealous?  we might be tempted to say "yes" when our efforts to be good are often peppered with "bad luck", frustration and disappointment.  But who's keeping score?  Let's ask for patience and perseverance till the "Master" steps in and doles out the rewards. May we find joy in knowing that he, if anyone can tell the difference between the wheat and the tares.

Bro. Rene