What do you want me to do for you?
You reap what you sow, 2
Christians have held that Jesus, as the Son of God, had knowledge and insight. Many Christians would be surprised by Jesus’ question. Believing he is armed with knowledge and insight why would he ask an obviously blind man, who had been loudly shouting his name: “What do you want me to do for you?”
The man’s answer is simple.
”Lord, I want to see.”
The man in this short phrase communicates something powerful. He admits a deficiency. He believes Jesus can repair this deficiency. The nature of his request is to have a capacity restored to him.
Do not miss this. This man asks for his condition to be improved, by having a capacity improved.
As in many places this story is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. This man points to the condition many people struggle with: “spiritual blindness.” This story completes a prophecy of one way people would be able to identify the Messiah.. When he comes, “The blind will see.”
In this case, Jesus restores the man’s sight. He returns this capacity to him.
Interestingly enough, Jesus asked some other people the same question “What do you want me to do for you?” It was when two of his closest followers, James and John asked him for a favor.
“”What do you want me to do for you?””
They answer differently. They do not ask for sight. They do not ask for wisdom. They do not ask for him to improve their capacity. They ask him to improve their condition by improving their position.
“They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
Notice the difference. I say again, notice the difference. One wants his position improved by having his capacity improved, and James & John want him to improve their condition by improving their position.
They assume that they can see clearly enough to be Jesus’ co-rulers. Jesus’ response to James and John is very different then his response to our blind friend.
Rather than promise position, he promises a process of trial and tribulation. He will improve their condition, by improving their capacity to endure difficulty.
This leaves us with a clear idea. “God improves your condition by improving your capacity.”
Sometimes, through difficulty.
Let us return to the last blog post - “you reap what you sow.”
Think about what you are sowing. We sow all the time. Each time I hit my snooze button, I am sowing a seed. Each time I let Netflix autostart the next episode, I am planting a seed. Each time I tell my son “I love you” I am planting a seed. Each time I take my wife on a date, I am planting a seed. And each of these seeds will grow into a plant that is of the same species and in a multiplicative fashion.
Lets bring these two ideas together.
“God often improves your condition by improving your capacity.”
“You reap what you sow.”
It is not wrong in itself it ask God for things you desire. But understand that asking him for a new job, or a better car, or for patience, is often asking him to cue up a process of growth for you.
When it comes to your prayers, what kind of seeds are you sowing? Are you asking God to give you things more? Or are you asking him to grow your wisdom, your insight, and other capacities?