A Thorough Weeding
By Susan Klein
“What was sown among
the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the
deceitfulness of wealth come in and choke it, making it unfruitful.”
Matthew
13:22 (NIV)
I
love to garden and I love flowers. I don’t, however, love weeds! With the
abundance of rain we’ve had so far this summer, they’ve become like a
metastatic cancer in my flower beds. I can barely keep up with them! And if
it’s not the weeds encroaching on my beautiful blossoms, it’s aphids or
beetles. So, I’ve weeded, and I’ve sprayed, and I’ve fertilized. And just when
I thought I had everything looking picture-perfect, the roofers came. Now my flower
beds have flying shingles and plastic tarps to contend with. I hope they are
strong enough to survive!
In
the Gospels, Jesus tells a parable about a farmer who went out to sow his seed.
Some seeds fell among the weeds and the tender shoots were choked out, unable
to produce any fruit. As I battle the weeds in my own flower beds, I can kind
of empathize with that farmer. However, when I read the rest of the story, I
see Jesus explaining the real meaning of the parable to the disciples. In
essence, He says that when we hear the Word of God, and we don’t have strong
roots in our faith, we are like those tender shoots when hardships and the
worries of life (weeds) sneak in. We can’t stand firm and we are overcome by
them.
I
have to wonder…what are the weeds, or the bugs, or the flying shingles that
encroach on my faith, rendering it unfruitful? Am I spiritually strong enough
to stay firmly rooted where I’ve been planted? Do I rely on scriptural truths
in every circumstance, or does “Doubting Thomas” become my nickname the minute
those weeds start creeping in? And how much time do I spend nurturing the seed
that’s been planted in me?
Sometimes,
a bit of fertilizer and a good, thorough weeding are in order. While it’s true
that struggles and hardship are inevitable, we don’t have to let them overtake
us. A healthy dose of God’s Word, along with some prayer mixed in, can be a
great remedy for weak roots. And, pulling out those “worry” weeds on a regular basis; trusting in
the Master Gardener instead, will go a long way to promote fruitfulness in our
lives.
So,
what’s growing in your garden?!!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
What steps can you take to ensure you’re standing strong against the
encroaching weeds of this life?
FURTHER
READING:
Susan is a We Women
Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy
tutoring and working with inner-city youth.
