We discussed grace in gospel doctrine class today in church. One man commented that because of the way many Christian denominations trumpet the importance of grace and see those who try to "save themselves" through good works as lacking faith and/or understanding of Christ and His power to save, we in the Church tend to instead trumpet the importance of works and speak only very sparingly of grace. He said that he felt this was the case because too much emphasis on grace is feared by some to lead people away from good works and into "cheap religion" or "cheap salvation" which requires nothing but to believe in and accept God's saving power. This was an interesting thought to me, and it made me ponder my own understanding of the role that grace plays in the restored gospel.
This pondering led me to remember the best illustration of the relationship between grace and works that I have heard to date. I believe it comes from LeGrand Richards' book A Marvelous Work and a Wonder. He describes a farmer who works hard clearing his field, plowing the soil, and planting his crops. He does these works and expects a fruitful harvest when the time comes. Yet all of these works will be of no effect if not for the rain. The rain is grace. It is a "source of divine help or strength" which is totally beyond the farmer's control and yet is absolutely essential to his success. In a sense, the reality of this grace could even be seen as the reason for his works, because without the rain, no amount of plowing or planting would produce the desired outcome.
This little story really helped me to better understand the scripture, "it is by grace we are saved after all we can do." No farmer could or should expect a harvest if he or she has not worked the soil and sown the seeds, regardless of the amount of rain falling upon the fields. However, the rain is there, and is more or less constant, ready to take the works of willing and faithful farmers to the end which they could never reach alone.
2 comments:
Nice thought, Scott. I agree with you and the guy in your class--when we under-emphasize grace, we are ignoring the part God plays in our lives and we're ignoring how much we need Him and His help. We can't do this alone.
I think God plays an even bigger part in the story about the field. Not only does He supply the rain, but the health of the farmer enabling him to work in the fields. God also provides a wife for the farmer, shelter for the farmer, people who purchase the farmer's harvest. He provides good, healthy soil. He gives inspiration to the inventors who created the tools the farmer uses. He blesses the farmer with children who bring fulfillment, love, and help on the farm. The list is endless.
So, although there would be no harvest if it were not for the efforts on the farmer's part, his works are minuscule compared to what God blesses him with. To me, that is grace. We will forever be indebted to the Lord because for every effort we put in, He blesses us tenfold. As essential as our works are to our salvation, what we do to accomplish it pales in comparison to the atonement of the Savior and the grace of God.
I loved it. Sweet LaGrande Richards. Kate's thought carries it even further and enlarges one's gratitude for grace. I've often thought of it as you doing all you can do and with all your effort reaching upward. Then no matter where you reach the hand of God reaches down to you, clasps your hand and pulls you up to Him the rest of the way.
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