Century Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)

1301 Tamarack Road, Owensboro, KY 42301, (270) 684-0286, Pastor:  Rev. Jim Westmoreland

Wasting the Soil
Luke 13:1-9
by Jim Westmoreland

This Sunday's Gospel presents a real challenge. Here is how William Willimon, Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist church, describes that challenge. "The contemporary North American church has succeeded in sentimentalizing Jesus to the point where we have taken the romantic, "gentle Jesus, meek and mild," of the 19th century, and reworked him into Jesus our good friend, our buddy, our therapist who always affirms and never criticizes, always blesses and never curses. And yet today's gospel presents us with an unsettling, judgmental Jesus."⁽¹⁾

For some reason, we tend to have selective hearing. We hear what we want to hear. We have selective interests. We read what we like, and, when we watch TV, we watch what we like. How easy it is for us to pass on by a documentary about the terrible starvation and plight of the people of Darfur and watch a ball game, a comedy or our favorite TV series. Yes, it is very easy.

Jesus was very much in tune with the tradition of the prophets of Israel. God expected the merchants, the well-off and the judges to treat people fairly and to be especially vigilant for the needs of people who were with little power or influence. Micah 6:8 distilled the prophetic message into these words: "Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."

Luke 12 begins a group of encounters and sayings that deal with accountability and responsibility. This theme continues into chapter 13. The key word in chapter 13 is "repent," and the key image is "wasting the soil."

The text begins with references to two tragedies. The first refers to some Galileans who were killed by Roman soldiers inside the Jewish Temple while they were making their sacrifices. William Barclay suggests that these Galileans were part of a protest against Pilate's use of Temple money to improve Jerusalem's water supply. Pilate did not tolerate protest. Things turned out more brutal than planned, and it was within the Temple walls!

The second incident is more obscure and involved 18 people who were on what was probably a guard tower near the pool of Siloam. The Pool of Siloam was the only permanent water source for the city of Jerusalem in the first century AD, and it had to be kept safe and under their control. It was fed by the waters of the Gihon Spring diverted through Hezekiah's Tunnel, which was built in the 8th century BC.

The scripture tells us that some people present were telling these stories to Jesus. After each one, they asked if the people suffered because they were worse offenders (sinners) than others? Each time, Jesus said, "No, but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

Don't we sometimes act like they did? Something bad happens, and we wonder what they did to deserve it. Or, maybe we go back to the age-old question about why bad things happen to good people.

Jesus is not drawn into a discussion with his disciples about who sinned, or who caused this tragedy. Rather, he gives the question back to them, as He says to them about their own lives, "unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did." Jesus turns the focus from blame to accountability. He says in so many words that we are responsible and accountable for what we do or don't do, and for what we say or don't say.

After his emphasis on accountability through repentance, Jesus emphasizes accountability to do what we are supposed to do by giving an illustration about a fig tree. Jesus use of the fig tree as a metaphor would have easily caught the attention of his audience. Desirable fruit trees, such as the fig tree, and grape vines grew together in the vineyard. There was not much soil available for crops, and every tree and plant was using valuable soil. The owner had been coming for three years looking for fruit. Now, the owner of the vineyard comes again to inspect his crop. Three years had already passed, but still this tree produced no fruit. He had decided that the time had come to remove the tree.

The tree had been given favorable soil, but it had not take advantage of the opportunities it had been given. Uselessness invites disaster. We must know as individuals what our purpose is and do it. And, we must know why God wants Century Christian Church here in Owensboro and make sure that we are fulfilling that purpose. When the owner of the vineyard is finally to give up on the tree and cut it down, he asks, "Why should it be wasting the soil?"

Such a parable seems harsh coming from the person who tells his disciples to forgive others seven times seven. It seems out of character coming from the man who told a story about a shepherd who neglected his entire flock and spent countless days searching for just one lost sheep. This parable seems out of sync with the another story about a father who waited and waited and waited for his son to return home.

A professor taught a philosophy course. After one class had began a student approached him to explain his difficulty reading and share his fear in taking the course. The professor encouraged him to keep up with the assignments, by studying every day, and he would do fine.

The student claimed that he tried but, when the first assigned paper came due, he pleaded for mercy. He had fallen behind and asked for more time. The professor granted his request and the paper arrived two weeks late.

Having fallen behind on the first project, the student once again asked for mercy when the due date arrived for the second paper. Once again, the teacher honored the request and waited. That paper did not arrive until the end of class, and with it another request for leniency on the final project. Again the teacher waited, but two months after the course ended, the final deadline passed and the teacher issued the failing mark.

Teachers tell the students at the beginning of class, "Here are the requirements for this course. These are the boundaries. Stay within these boundaries, and you will be fine. Transgress these rules, and you will have big trouble in this course." Students learn that, if they do not comply with these boundaries, failure is inevitable. Patience is a virtue, forbearance is a good thing but there are limits.⁽²⁾

The parable asks us how long will we push God's limits. How long will we remain unproductive procrastinators, casting blame on the difficult circumstances of our childhood, on an unreasonable boss, on a missed opportunity, a doctor's misdiagnosis or an unsympathetic spouse? Blame is easy. There are more than enough targets. Responsibility is difficult, because it begins and ends with us. It assumes that there are no magic formulas, no winning lottery tickets, no undeserving promotions, no miracles just a lot of human perspiration, good time management and a spirit that never gives up.⁽³⁾

This parable also suggests that there can be a second chance. The gardener pleaded to the vineyard owner to let him have one more year. He would give it special care by keeping the soil loose and fertilizing it. At the end of the year, if it had still produced not fruit, then he would cut it down. We are not immortal. We were created by God for a finite life. He loves us and is patient and merciful toward us. Like Israel, we have all received many second chances. But one day, when our finite life comes to an end, our second chances will end also.

Jesus calls us, as He did the people of His day to repent. The season of Lent is about honest, inward examination and confession. It is about consciously turning from bad habits, bad behavior, and acting like it isn't important.

We are accountable to use the soil, the talents and abilities that God has given us to let our light shine for Him. If we are not sharing our faith in the Life-changing, Life-fulfilling, Life-completing Christ with others, are we not "wasting the soil?" If we are not using our time and talents in ways to minister to the needs of others in a personal way, are we not "wasting the soil?" If our physical abilities are not what they used to be, adjust, and do what you know you can do! Today, make a commitment to be a stronger and more faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, give your talents to Him. Today, make your citizenship in the Kingdom of God your highest commitment. And, don't waste the soil! Amen.

Century Christian Church, March 11, 2007 - Sermon by Jim Westmoreland

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