Knowing and Doing

I went to the Wendy’s drive-thru the other night. I was thinking “Baconator.” I had everyone else’s order. I got home with the food and looked and realized they didn’t give us what we’d ordered. They gave us the less expensive food for the higher price. I was mildly upset because this wasn’t the first time this had happened. You get all the way home and realize you’re not getting what you paid for. So this time, instead of shrugging it off, I acted. I called the restaurant. I asked for Wendy. I told them what happened and then I said,

“I would like you to send someone over with the food we ordered.”

And the guy on the other end laughed. He said, “We can’t do that, sir.” I was welcome to come over and get my food but they couldn’t drive over to me.

Service isn’t what it used to be. Now, to be fair to Wendy’s, I’ve experienced worse than that. Wendy’s gave us coupons for free meals later. Most businesses just give you a smirk or a cold shoulder. It’s the sales person on the phone while you are waiting for help at the store, which isn’t so bad until you realize they’re on the phone with their friend and they don’t want you to interrupt.

Businesses have problems with customer service. And they know it. They do polls and questionnaires. They hire outside consultants. They set goals and write five-year plans. “Customer service is job one.” But then nothing happens. They know what needs to be done but they don’t do it.

I’m glad as persons we don’t have the problem that businesses do. I’m glad that we always act on the knowledge we have. I’m glad that there is no disconnect in our lives.

Oh, wait, there is.

Jesus tells a parable about how this disparity between knowing and doing sometimes happens. He uses the metaphor of a farmer going out to plant seed in his fields.
This parable is often called the Parable of the Sower; but the story is really more about the soils where the seeds are scattered. The story is about dirt. And we are the dirt!

Some seeds fall in shallow soil, but they don’t last long and wither. Some seeds fall on hard ground and the birds come and eat them before anything can sprout. Some seeds fall among thorns and the seedlings that sprout are soon choked. The seeds are all good seeds, but the soil is poor.

Jesus later explains the meaning of this parable to his disciples. He says that whoever hears “the word of the kingdom” and does not understand it or receive it, loses it because the evil one snatches it away. A closed heart or a closed mind prevents them from finding God.

Other people seem to respond enthusiastically to the Gospel at first. But they are immature and without time to grow they inevitably come against troubles in their life. When life gets hard, they forget about God.

Still others are like seedlings among thorns – the thorns in their lives are really the very things their sinful natures crave: wealth, status, and other stuff they lust after.

These words ring true. But it seems so precarious, even unfair. I mean, shouldn’t God make it easier to be a believer?

The disciples thought so too. I know this because after Jesus told them this parable they asked him, “Why are you always telling parables?” In other words, why hidden meanings in stories; why not just come out and say what you mean? Give us the five steps, Lord! Give us something with bullet points!

Parables are an indirect way of teaching, but one that was not uncommon among the rabbis of that day, nor ever since. But Jesus seemed to use stories more than other rabbis, and his parables were more challenging. Why? He makes it clear.

“To true disciples of the kingdom, the truths of the kingdom are given. But those who don’t bother to search and find end up finding little, and even the little they have they will lose.” (my paraphrase) Matt. 13.11-12

I often try to encourage my boys to read more. They are often reluctant. Video games require less effort. I tell them that reading is good for them. They want to know why it is good for them. I want to say, and sometimes do, that reading opens up doors and kingdoms for them. Reading enlightens the mind and stirs the heart and imagination. Reading is its own reward. But I can only tell them. They will know it when they find it out for themselves.

The word of the kingdom is like that. You can listen to preachers talk about it. You can say you believe it. But you’ve got to experience it yourself. And to experience it you’ve got to do it!

Like Van Morrison once sang, “You’ve got to try for the Kingdom.” If you’re not willing to try, and persevere, what do you expect God to do for you?

No one ever drifted into heaven. No one ever accidentally stumbled on a deep relationship of any kind, let alone a deep relationship with God. But a relationship with God has its own rewards.

We settle for less, not because God is stingy, but because we are distracted. Are you missing the word of the kingdom for lesser things? Do you miss it cause you have to work all the time? God never said you can’t make a living, but if you have no time for God, then its not a living you’re making.

Do you miss the word of the kingdom because you’re “just so busy, you know, with the kids and work and trips on the week-ends.” Again, our lives are full, I know, with good things all, but God is the ultimate thing. Everything else is idols.

Our problem isn’t the knowing, it’s the doing.

St. Paul’s instruction to the Romans is, “Set your mind on the things of the Spirit and not on the flesh.” The flesh, the person still in prison to their sinful nature, cannot obey God.

“But you are in the Spirit, because the Spirit lives in you.” Romans 8.9

So believe and do. Believe and grow. Believe and persevere and let nothing get in the way of you bearing the fruit God intends in your life!

Listen to Jesus again:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like the intelligent man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and it was utterly ruined!” Matthew 7.24-27