Living Amongst the Weeds

Yesterday I came across a new favorite parable of mine that reminded me to love those in my life who usually bring out the worst in me. This is the parable about the weeds growing among the wheat which can be found in the book of Matthew 13: 24-30.

24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up nad bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, " Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then did these weeds come from?" 28 He answered, " An enemy has done this." The slaves said to him, " Then do you want us to go and gather them?" 29 But he replied, " NO; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."

Jesus instructs the slaves not to uproot the weeds that were growing alongside the wheat but instead let them grow up together lest the wheat be uprooted with it. The weeds reminded me of the people in my life that sadly have been decieved by Satan himself and tend to follow the ways of this world and sometimes tend to choke the good grain right out of us. We all have these weeds growing ceaselessly among us whether they be in the work place, at church, or even in our own families. But God in his mercy has placed them in our midst so that we who have been entrusted with the mission to "love our neighbor as we love ourselves" can let our lights shine and be a witness to God's great love. The weeds can also be looked at as our own vices and weaknesses that can easily snuff out any gifts or virtues God has graciously given us. As the saying goes, " Be patient, God is not finished with me yet." Lord, please help me remember this when I am out in the vineyard with my weedwhacker roaring.