Faith as a grain of mustard seed

[Jito463]

So, I was discussing this with my pastor a while back, and I've really been thinking about this lately. We all know that Jesus spoke of faith as a grain of mustard seed, which could move mountains.

Matthew 17:20

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Luke 17:6

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

For years, we've always heard it said that this means even a tiny bit of faith can move mountains. There's even a song we sing about it:

Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith
Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith
You don't need a lot, just use what you've got
Faith, faith, faith, just a little bit of faith

However, some time ago, God planted a tiny seed of thought (no pun intended) in my mind, that perhaps this verse isn't saying what we've all been taught it to mean.

We know that a mustard seed is a tiny grain, but it grows into a massive tree.


What if Jesus wasn't saying we only need a small amount of faith, what if Jesus was saying that we need faith which is capable of growing. Not only growing, but growing to vast proportions over where it began. Starting small, but vastly increasing until it literally dwarfs where we started.

We don't need a "little bit of faith" to move mountains, we need faith which can grow and expand, as God reveals Himself more and more to us.

Thoughts?

[Esaias]

Good point.

[hometown guy]

Yes I have taught about this many times.... God never said that the “ tiny “ faith would move the mountain but his point was if you have that faith and let it grow than nothing will be impossible. God never meant for us to stay with a little seed size of faith just like he never intended us to stay on milk but to grow to be able to eat meat...

[KeptByTheWord]

Very good thought!

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by hometown guy

Yes I have taught about this many times.... God never said that the “ tiny “ faith would move the mountain but his point was if you have that faith and let it grow than nothing will be impossible. God never meant for us to stay with a little seed size of faith just like he never intended us to stay on milk but to grow to be able to eat meat...

I've heard pastors in the past mention about how the mustard seed grows into a large tree, but I've never heard one preach a message in the same vein as the thought I posted above. I'm glad to know someone has, though.

[LetUsReason]

Ive heard preachers compare faith to a muscle. You work it out like you would a muscle and it grows over time. You start out with small every-day things, for instance, trusting God for a parking space etc. As your faith grows, you can handle bigger issues. Many people want to see cancers healed but freak out over the tiny every-day things. If you cant have faith for the small things, don't expect to be a faith-warrior in the bigger things. So, in this way, it would be similar to the analogy of the mustard seed growing over time and developing from a tiny seed into a monstrous tree.

[1 God]

Well said my friend.

[R J Johnson]

There is great depth in what Jesus is saying here. Faith as a mustard seed. The seed is buried in the earth, to rest, to wait. It first must die before new life can come forth. You must die and bury self before you can have new life. Not with mental gymnastics but in the manner of Phil 2:5. Then the dead mustard seed begins and splits the hull, puts down one tendril of root, then there breaks forth the new growth reaching for the surface, the stem, branches, flower and then seeds. The point being that for the Kingdom of God to grow in you and produce, it must be from Him. Thy Kingdom come----thine be the honor, glory, praise. Your ministry must be kingdom minded only. And where was Mary while Martha served?

[Praxeas]

Interesting