Unless a Kernel of Wheat Falls to the Ground

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).

In life, nothing comes free.  Somewhere, somehow, and someone has to pay for it.  Fruitfulness and joyfulness have the habit of requiring much from a person.  Anyone who does not want to sacrifice anything will not see the face of success and happiness.

When it comes to Christian life, Jesus requires death.  He said “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.  The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:24-25).  Such a requirement and willingness to die in order to live was beautifully demonstrated in the life and experience of Sadhu Sunder Singh when he was traveling to Tibet. 

Joshua Daniel, in Sundar Singh’s biography describes the event, and Mrs. Arthur Parker in her book about the Sadhu confirms it.  It seems Sadhu was fond of using this experience to explain about the verse we cited above.  The event goes like this;

On one of his Himalayan journeys in an awful blizzard, he together with another traveler was struggling to reach the next village. It seemed highly improbable that they would make it. In the midst of the storm as they trudged through the deep snow, they saw a man lying apparently dead, by the path. Sundar Singh said to the fellow traveler, "Come, let us carry him to the next village." The traveler was astounded by the proposition and scoffed, "You and I are scarcely likely to save our own lives. It makes no sense to think of carrying a man who is almost dead. I will be no part of your foolishness." So saying, he walked ahead, leaving Sundar Singh with the man who had almost frozen to death. Although he showed few signs of life, it was against the grain for Sundar Singh to leave a dying man to perish in the snow storm. He hoisted the limp figure onto his back and wearily and painstakingly trudged through the snows, step by step. The labor and friction involved when carrying a deadweight, such as a man who was almost lifeless, was perhaps the cause for Sundar's own survival in that dreadful storm. A little while after, Sundar came upon the form of his erstwhile travel companion lying dead in the snow! The cold had killed him. He had tried to save his own life but had lost it. Sundar Singh, by undertaking an impossible task, which on the surface meant certain death for himself, saved his own life. The strenuous exertion involved saved Sundar Singh's life. By the time he reached the next village, the man on his back revived and thus his life was saved too.

Dear friends, let us not be blinded by the things of this world or the temporary pleasure it offers, or the fleeting fame it promises.  Let us lay down our lives for the master so that in doing so, we shall reap eternal life with eternal consequences. 

A closer walk with Christ will require you to give up the things that are holding you back.  The more fruitful ministry will require you to live a life of love, truth and faith.  Such a life and ministry will not come without paying the price for it.  It will require discipline, dedication, and willingness to embrace suffering; willingness to lose all.