Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ”

Have you ever worked hard to build something up — a company, a career, an asset, or a relationship — only to have an enemy sabotage you? I have seen this happen to me a couple of times.

One time, a sales manager tried to go around me on a large account and transfer it to some another salesman. I had wrote it and managed it. Fortunately, the client called me and informed me of this. I felt really betrayed.

Another time a woman who we helped to get out of poverty and guide in taking care of her child, just decided to have a baby with someone she wasn’t married to who was 20 years younger than her. After so much support and work, it was devastating to think of the bad role model this was for her 13-year daughter. So much time we spent helping seemed to be wasted.

I think the point of this parable is the workers wanted to take action to get rid of this evil, the enemy had planted. But the owner had the wisdom to consider the damage to the good crop, that tearing out the bad one would cause.

And so it is in life: we must seek the counsel of God before taking matters into our own hands, either out of revenge or anger or other motives. Many times, God wants us to be patient, and work alongside an enemy impact for a time to learn to trust him more. We can also be good role models for others of unconditional love and faithfulness.

When we honor God by being patient and waiting for his perfect timing, many times we see his righteous right hand come through and punish those who are evil or reward us in different ways for our faithfulness. No one will escape the judgment of God. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬)

Lord, thank you for this encouragement to be patient and to think about your will and my model of righteousness to others. I will wait on you and you will act in justice.