manupthebook

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about good soil and how it should yield 30, 60 or 100 fold. I was cut to the quick when I began to reflect on this passage.

In all the effort that I had put in, I couldn’t look at my life and see that I was producing that sort of yield in the one area that was most important.

In order to yield the kind of fruit that was expected, I really needed to invest time and energy in another person. I needed to share not just my mind and my knowledge, I had to share my heart.

This is what Jesus did. Yes he spoke to crowds but he really walked personally with about 12 people. He invested deeply, his mind, his knowledge, his very self. He showed them that he loved them by wanting only the best for them.

If we want to emulate Jesus, if we really want to be a disciple, we need to do what he did. We need to really invest deeply of ourselves into another person.

Although it has taken me a long time to come to this understanding, I’m thankful there is still time.

Spending just an hour a week with another person and helping that person to a deeper level of discipleship is all it takes. With luck, I have another 30 years to go. If I help one person per year maybe I can yield 30 fold. If I can help two per year, maybe 60 fold. Three per year, well … you get the drift.

So the question is, can you look back on your life and see what kind of soil you are? Are you willing to lead another to the point they are willing to share your investment with someone else?

This is what spiritual parenthood and discipleship is all about.