When does God encourage apparent wastefulness?
Genesis 2:2-3On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
God spend the first six days of Creation busy at work fashioning the universe. Then God wasted a day. He stopped. He rested; not because God was tired but because he wanted to set an example for us of the importance of rest, refreshment, and renewal. As creatures in made in God’s image, we imitate him when we work no more than six days and make sure that we take time that might seem wasted in order to rest, reflect, and worship.
Deuteronomy 24:19-22“When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all you do. When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don’t go over the boughs twice. Leave the remaining olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don’t glean the vines after they are picked. Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.”
We might consider anything less than meticulous harvesting and exact picking to be wasteful, but this instruction was intended to ensure that the extra was available to people in need. Refinements in how we harvest crops do not remove God’s insistence that we express our gratitude for a good harvest by sharing our blessings with others.
Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23He [Jesus] told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” . . . “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Although much of the seed seems wasted by the farmer on the unproductive soils, broadcasting the seed that represents “the message of the Kingdom” produces enough from the receptive soil to more than make up for those places where seed does not survive. Those whom the farmer sends to do the sowing on his behalf may not be able to tell what is actually fertile soil, so best to follow the farmer’s practices and broadcast the seed everywhere.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
To those without the spirit of Christ, genuine generosity appears to be wasteful. But generosity produces a harvest of goodness to those who persist in it.
