The Weeds

 "'No, ' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow until the harvest.'" Matthew 13: 29-30 NIV

In this parable, Jesus describes the world as a field that was planted with wheat but in which weed seeds sprouted. Initially the weeds looked similar to the wheat so it was difficult to differentiate between the two kinds of plants. At the time of harvest, it would be clear which plants were wheat and which plants were  weeds. The farmer in the parable tells his workers to leave the weeds growing alongside the wheat as pulling them up could uproot the wheat as well. In our lives, there are people who are wheat for our souls. They feed us spiritual truths and nourish our Christian growth. Others are like the weeds and are not helping us to grow in the Kingdom of God. However, these unbelieving people may still play important roles in our lives. Perhaps they are employers,  perhaps they are family members, perhaps they are elected officials. God may keep these people in our lives as they support us in practical and emotional ways.  Ultimately though at the end of the age when there is the judgment of people, those who follow God will enter the kingdom of heaven, and those in rebellion against God will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Sometimes I find this passage difficult. I like some of the "weeds" in my life. It is sad to think that they may never come to saving faith in Christ. I pray that I will be able to trust God even when faced with challenging truths.