Mike’s Musings …
Does It Do Any Good?
How many have at least thought, “It won’t do any good …” regarding an effort to improve something or someone? Especially regarding spiritual matters, this defeatist attitude is critical. The loss of any soul is tragic, but if that loss is your fault, it is worse! (2 Corinthians 4:3) No one is without a soul, and therefore, everyone has the right to hear the gospel at least once! God is not willing that any [soul] should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). That doesn’t mean all souls will obey, but it does mean neither you nor I can determine how much good our sowing of the seed (Luke 8:11) might do in the soul to whom we share that seed!
Still, there are times when the receiver is simply not interested, perhaps even antagonistic toward hearing anything about God, Christ Jesus, or the plan of salvation. He has no interest in “church” and scoffs at those who do. Perhaps he is the “wayside soil” of Luke 11, or at best the “stony ground” where God’s word is without depth of root. But in that parable, does that negate the Sower’s responsibility of sowing the seed? Not at all! It is not the requirement of the Sower to prepare that ground; rather, it is the responsibility of the receiver. Sowing the seed on the wayside soil will at least feed the birds, and on the stony ground, it grows for a little while. Any good done in the process? Ask the birds, and those who notice the growth, albeit minimal, on the stones.
I muse on the fact that many “pre-determine” what good can be done in some situations. Granted, there are hearts so calloused against the truth that they are beyond feeling (1 Timothy 4:2), and we aren’t to cast our pearls before such swine (Matthew 7:6). Yet are WE the ones with such keen perception of the minds of others that WE can determine their worthiness to hear God’s Word? Only after we’ve tried to converse with them. Therefore, consider our efforts WILL do some good, and speak kindly, with conviction, and truthfully. Then let God give the increase to His seed!