I used to believe growth was about addition until nature taught me the importance of subtraction. I don’t always notice or “listen” to nature, but when I do, I’m amazed. Life is busy, and I have to tell myself to stop. Sometimes, I even tell myself to “smell the roses.” 

Scientific Faith 

I believe in science, but I’m afraid I have to disagree with those who deny that God works behind the scenes. Believing that everything is an accident or a coincidence takes a lot of faith. I’d rather put my faith in God.  

Looking around, I don’t see an accident or a coincidence. I see intention, a plan. 

Nature’s Lessons 

Psalm 19 says that nature proclaims God’s handiwork. In Romans 1, Paul says that God reveals himself through nature. God uses nature, and when we “listen,” we can learn a lot.  

That’s how I learned about growth through subtraction. When seeds are planted, they die. For a new plant to exist, a seed must die first. Amazing.  

A seed from a living plant lives until it is planted, and then it dies, giving way to new growth and life.  Jesus pointed this out in John 12. In other words, addition (life) through subtraction (death).  

Subtraction and Addition  

In John 15, Jesus also discussed pruning plants. Jesus is quite the gardener, and this makes sense since nature reveals God.  

For most of my life, I thought you pruned the dead parts of a plant. While growing tomatoes, I watched a YouTube video and learned you prune not just the dead parts but the good living parts of the plant. When you do, the pruning promotes growth. It seems like addition through subtraction to me.  

For something to grow, something has to die. This is true in nature and also for us. When we say yes to one thing, we say no to something else so our “yes” can grow. What we say “no” to dies. 

No, and Yes

Jesus said those who want to save their life must lose it. He also said that those who wish to follow Him must first deny themselves, or in other words, say no or die to themselves.  

It’s not easy to say no to things we’ve already said yes to, and it’s even harder to say no to ourselves. Subtraction is never easy, but it is necessary if we are going to grow. 

When we deny ourselves or lose our life for Jesus’ sake, we find or save our life. Some see this as a paradox: saving by losing or saying yes by saying no, maybe even addition through subtraction. Nevertheless, to live, something has to die. 

We know the seed that falls to the ground dies, but then there’s life. What needs to die so you can live? 

Jesus asks, “For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” (Matthew 16:26)

How are you forfeiting the life Jesus desires to give you? What are you saying yes to that you should be saying no to? What do you need to let go of? 

This is part of “The Formative Path” a 2024 Fall Sermon Series at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Indiana. For more information and the Weekly Reflection Sheets, go to https://ponderingpassages.com/category/path/