What Does Burning Grass Have To Do With Finances?

Every year, just before winter began, my grandmother, a very hard-working woman was seen clearing up the front yard.

The ground, well-watered by months of heavy rainfall would sprout different kinds of weeds, plants, and grass. Unique wildflowers could also be found among all the wildly grown weeds. The entire landscape would be filled with grass, tall grass, short grass, green grass, yellow grass. Indeed, it was a lot of grass and, it all needed uprooting to make the yard clean and free from snakes.

Getting rid of the seasonal grass would take a day and at times longer.

It was quite a daunting task.

Once all the weeds and tall grass was uprooted, Grandmother would gather it into a pile at a corner of the yard. She would then light up a fire. The flames would burn for hours until the whole heap was consumed leaving behind a smoldering stack of ash.

Ta-da, the yard would look clean and neat.

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus compares our worries and needs to grass, a parallel that logically may not appeal to our senses. It might even seem awkward, to have Jesus compare our needs to grass. Human needs as we know can get very big. And here is Jesus, comparing those needs to something as little and ordinary as grass.

Then as if the comparison is not astonishing enough, Jesus goes on further to compare the riches of Solomon to grass, again.

According to Jesus, grass is better than the splendor that Solomon displayed.

Imagine that for a moment.

Solomon, the richest person that ever lived and Jesus comparing his wealth to grass.

Come on.

If I were in Solomon’s place I would be humiliated and wonder ‘Lord, what about the tons of pure gold? The pounds of silver? What about the great Queen Sheba coming all the way from a faraway land to validate the greatness and being awestruck at what she saw? Are you comparing all these distinguished achievements to grass?’

Remember the account shared in the book of Kings, the Bible talks about the time when Solomon was made King. When the throne was handed over Solomon admitted his incompetency to carry out the role on his own before God. He asked for wisdom to manage the awesome task ahead of him.

Remember how God granted him wisdom and more?

Thereafter, it became obvious that all the great things Solomon built and achieved, all the wealth, the honor, the great administration, it all came from one source – God’s wisdom, blessing and favour.

Which means all that we want to achieve and all that we want to have can be realized and gained and created from one source, God’s wisdom, blessing and favour.

But how?

By seeking.

Seeking what?

First and foremost, God, the Father, the creator, the one who spoke into nothingness, ordering a trail of ‘Let there be’ at whose command things unseen came into existence, as mentioned in Genesis.

Second, Jesus, the Messiah, the Son, through whom we qualify for greatness, wisdom, sonship and more.

Thirdly, the Holy Spirit, the Guide, the one Jesus said will help us, who will empower us to accomplish great things.

When faced with seemingly big challenges, our mind can play havoc and bombard us with questions like ‘How on earth are you going to make it through? How will you sort out that issue? How will you arrange for all that’s needed? Isn’t it too much? Aren’t you feeling overwhelmed?’

Here is what Jesus suggests during His sermon on the mount ‘Don’t stress’.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mathew chapter 6 verses 28 – 34

The solution that Jesus offers to our needs and worries is simple.

If we’re stressed, worried and troubled, take Jesus at His Word. Stop worrying. Stop stressing out. Let the wisdom of God move into the situation and do what only God can through the power of His Holy Spirit.

The Lord is able to meet all your needs.