When I study the Bible for the activities that I am involved in, my mind quite often wanders to an event which happened in my life, either recently or a long time ago. This happened when I was studying the Parable of the Weeds.

Matthew 13:24-26 – Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared." (NIV)

While I was visualizing this scene, my mind wandered to the time in 1960 when I was a fledgling accountant with a pipeline construction firm. I had been transferred to a new project, and as a consequence, I had a new office mate with whom I shared the office trailer. He was a very unhappy man. He had lost a good job with another firm, and he did not like the job that he had then. He complained all the time and pointed out what was wrong with the company, the management, and just about everything else.

At the end of the week, I went to my parents' home, where my wife and our little girl were staying until I found a place to live. I told my dad how unhappy I was at work. He looked at me and wondered what had happened, mentioning the fact that I had always been happy. I told him about my office mate and his attitude at work. Nothing about my work had changed, but the seeds of discontent had been sown, and I had let those growing weeds influence my attitude. After that, I ignored my colleague's negative attitude. Pretty soon, he left the company, and I carried on as I had before, happy in my work.

After Jesus told this parable, He then sent the people away and went into the house. His disciples asked Him to explain the parable.

Matthew 13:37-38 – He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one." (NIV)

So often we let people influence our lives for the worse: at home, at work, and even in the church. When people sow seeds of discontent in our lives, we need to be aware of it and reject it, lest as a consequence we reap the weeds of unhappiness.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that when we are confronted with people who sow seeds of discontent, You will give us the ability not to let them influence our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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