Optimist’s Roundtable

By Martha Sykes

It’s that time of year when we see lots of flowers, but then it seems like the weeds are taking over. In God‘s word, we can read about the parables that Jesus told as He walked the earth. Well, in Matthew 13, it’s a parable that’s not about the flowers but the weeds.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while he was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.”

As that parable ends, Jesus tells the harvesters to “collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, and then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.” Jesus explained that the wheat are the people who have a relationship with Him. The weeds are people who look like they have a relationship with Him, but really don’t.

Sometimes I wonder if when God looks down on the Earth, does He see more flowers or does he see more weeds?

Jesus told the story because He is reminding us to think about whether we really belong to Him and if we do have that relationship with Him that makes a difference.

In II Corinthians 23:5, it says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.”

Jesus always gives us another opportunity to move from being a weed or a flower; from the illusion of life to the real thing.

Sometimes the weeds take over the flowers and that reminds us of how worldly things can hinder our faith. In the end, He will be harvesting the flowers .