Wild Oats
Courtesy of Greg Weeks
Everyone is tempted by their own cravings…Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death. — James 1:14-15
The phrase, “sowing wild oats,” dates back to the 1500s. It refers to seeds that look like any other seeds that produce good crops. However, once wild oats are sown, take root, and grow, they are useless. James would have called wild oats “cravings” that look so enticing in the moment. Once satisfied, though, what we thought was fulfilling is empty. We then go on to look for something else to give us an immediate high. Ultimately, the crop is “sin” and “death.”
Reading the above paragraph sounds like it was written by an old “fuddy duddy,” a term that older people use that shows that they are, indeed, old. But maybe with age does indeed come wisdom. Weren’t there times in our lives we wish we could go back to and pick up the wild oats before they took root? When giving in to something seemed so right at the moment, but the consequences damaged relationships, hurt others, and estranged yourself from your true self and from God?
The antidote to wild-oating is having the discipline and vision to plant a better crop. “From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8) To the world, Christians are always planting the wrong seeds. But after a while, understood by Christian fuddy duddies everywhere, we know what we need to grow in order to have life, and have it abundantly.
Greg Weeks
Rev. Greg Weeks
The Rev. Greg Weeks is a retired clergy member of the Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. This post is republished with permission from his blog, "Being Christian Without Losing Your Mind."