Live and Let Live

The Bible contains a story that is reflected in the slogan, “Live and let live.”  Here it is.

God’s kingdom is like a man who planted good seed in his field. That night, while everyone was asleep, the man’s enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and then left. Later, the wheat grew, and heads of grain grew on the plants. But at the same time the weeds also grew. Then the man’s servants came to him and said, “You planted good seed in your field. Where did the weeds come from?” 

The man answered, “An enemy planted weeds.”  The servants asked, “Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?”  He answered, “No, because when you pull up the weeds, you might also pull up the wheat. Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time.

At the harvest time I will tell the workers this: First, gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.”

Matthew 13:24-30

It’s important to our understanding what Jesus was saying to know that the kind of weeds that grew from the bad seed sown by the enemy looked very much like the wheat until it was almost time for harvesting. 

In our everyday lives we bump into all sorts of people who often seem to do pretty much what we do and yet we know that unless they have given their lives to God, there is a great difference.  Those who are with God are like the wheat and those who are doing life on their own are the weeds.

It’s not for us to decide “who’s in and who’s out” with God.  God alone knows what is in a person’s heart.  Actions don’t always speak the whole truth.   

God’s instruction to us today is that we need to guard our thoughts and attitudes by paying attention to what we need to do to be right with God and with others and then let everything else go.  God will sort things out according to the whole truth that He and He alone knows.

God’s counsel to us today is, “live and let live”, because He has a plan to take care of both the wheat and the weeds.  When the time is right, all will be revealed. 

Heavenly Father, We are so glad You know what is right and true and that we can give those things that concern us to You.  It’s so easy to be distracted and thrown off course by our reactions to what others are saying or doing.

Help us today to keep our focus on Your will for our life and to follow You in all our ways.  That usually keeps us plenty busy for the day.  Help us to live and let live without judgment trusting that You are with us,  You are for us, and You are in control.  Amen.

So, live and let live.  Let’s do our best to practice this life principle today.