What is Worth Giving Your Life To?
- edenmunciepastor
- 8 minutes ago
- 4 min read
A few weeks ago, I discovered a tiny tulip tree seedling growing outside our church kitchen.
Most people would have walked right past it. At first glance it didn't look impressive. In fact, it looked a little like a weed. Just a few small leaves pushing their way out of the soil.
But I knew what it was. So I carefully dug it up and I'm going to transplant it. Why? Because I am not looking as it is today. I am looking at what it can become.
One day that tiny seedling could become one of the largest native trees in Indiana. Its flowers will feed pollinators. Its broad canopy will provide cooling shade. Its seeds will become food for birds and wildlife during the winter. Its roots will strengthen the soil. Its presence will benefit an entire ecosystem. What appeared insignificant today could become a blessing for generations.
As I reflected on that little tree this week, I couldn't help but think of Jesus' words in Matthew 13.
"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed..."
"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast..."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field..."
In every one of these parables, Jesus points to something easily overlooked.
A tiny seed.
A pinch of yeast.
A buried treasure no one else can see.
A pearl hidden among countless others.
The Kingdom of God often arrives in small beginnings.
The challenge is learning to recognize its value.
The people in Exodus 36-40 understood this. They devoted themselves to building the Tabernacle because they recognized that God was doing something extraordinary among them. Their generosity became so abundant that Moses eventually told them to stop bringing offerings. They invested themselves wholeheartedly because they believed what God was building was worth their lives.
The same thing happened to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 7. Paul rejoices because they were no longer merely hearing truth; they were responding to it. Their hearts were changing. Their devotion was growing. God's work in them was becoming visible.
And that raises an important question for all of us:
What is worth giving our lives to?
Most of us spend our days investing our time, energy, attention, and resources somewhere. We are all cultivating something.
The Kingdom invites us to look beyond what appears impressive today and ask a deeper question:
What is God growing?
Sometimes God's work looks as small as a mustard seed.
A child learning to pray.
A friendship beginning to heal.
A neighbor asking a spiritual question.
A volunteer serving quietly.
A person taking one small step toward Christ.
A tiny tulip tree growing beside a church kitchen.
The world often overlooks these things.
Jesus never does.
The Kingdom grows in ways that are often hidden before they become visible.
The people who make the greatest impact are not always those chasing what appears successful. They are often those who recognize what God is growing and decide it is worth investing their lives in.
May God give us eyes to see the treasure.
May God give us hearts devoted to His Kingdom.
And may we discover, again and again, that His Kingdom is worth giving our lives to.
And this is why we follow Jesus, love Jesus and live like Jesus.
Seeking His Kingdom with You,
Pastor T
Reflect: Which of the Kingdom parables (mustard seed, yeast, treasure, pearl, net) speaks most clearly to you right now?
Gather: Small Group discussion questions
Tell about a time when you overlooked something that later proved valuable.
What stands out to you about the tulip tree illustration?
Why do you think Jesus so often used examples from nature when teaching about the Kingdom?
What "small beginnings" do you see God nurturing in your life?
What ministries, relationships, or opportunities might we overlook because they seem insignificant?
What does devotion to God's Kingdom look like in everyday life?
What is one area where God may be inviting you to invest more deeply in what He is growing?
Spiritual Exercise: Kingdom Eyes
This week, spend 10-15 minutes outside each day.
Take a slow walk, sit on a porch, visit a park, or simply stand in your yard.
As you observe nature, ask yourself:
What is growing here?
What appears small but has great potential?
What signs of life might others overlook?
What does this reveal about how God works?
Take note of seeds, trees, flowers, birds, insects, roots, clouds, or changing weather patterns.
Then shift your attention to your life and community.
Ask:
Where do I see God growing something small?
Who might God be nurturing that others overlook?
What relationship, ministry, or opportunity needs patient attention rather than immediate results?
What "mustard seed" might God be inviting me to invest in?
Close with this prayer:
Lord Jesus, Give me eyes to see Your Kingdom. Help me recognize the treasure You are growing in ordinary places and ordinary people. Teach me to value what You value. Show me where You are at work, and give me the courage to devote my life to what will last. Amen.
This week, don't just look at nature.
Practice seeing the world the way Jesus does.
You may discover that God's Kingdom is growing in places you never expected.