Planting Things Right

I am an early morning person and I love going out to my garden in the cool of that time of day. I find each journey outside a new adventure. At times it seems as if things have sprouted overnight and I marvel at the wonders of God’s creation. As I move about, the sights and sounds inundate my senses – the massive bird chorus, the pink sky of the dawn, the squirrels chattering, the trees gently rustling in the breeze, and so on. I find my garden to place of peace and contemplation. While the work in my large garden is considerable, it is a place where I relax and restore.

As I walk through the garden, it is evident how variances in soil make a difference in plant viability. My strawberry patch is a perfect example. In one section, the soil is richer and drains well. Those berry plants are large and vibrant, producing a substantial amount of fruit. The other end of my strawberry patch is soil that is not so nutrient dense. Those plants are sparse and few berries are produced. The soil composition is a significant factor in their growth.

I have other areas of the yard where I have tried to plant flowers to provide some ground cover. The soil in these areas is quite poor in quality and many of the seeds just don’t germinate or if they do, they are not long-lived plants. When the ground is dry and cracking, even shortly after a rain, I know that growing something of substance there is almost impossible.

My own garden experience relates well to Jesus’ parable of the sower, found in Matthew 13. Jesus used parables to explain spiritual truths with commonplace items. In this case the spiritual truth is about the various ways people respond to the Gospel message. In this parable He speaks of seed landing on four different types of locations: the path, rocky places, among the thorns, and good soil.

Seed landing on a hard path cannot penetrate in order to germinate. It is easy picking for birds. Those with hard hearts don’t allow the Gospel message to penetrate and they are easy prey for Satan’s wiles.

In rocky places there is a small amount of growing matter and seeds can survive for a while, but when hot winds blow or lack of rain ensues, these plants don’t survive. Some people do respond to the Gospel message with joy. But their faith has no depth and when troubles come, they fall away from the faith.

When seeds are sown among the thorns, they do grow, but eventually the weeds take over and the plant can no longer thrive and yield fruit. Some people do readily accept the Gospel message. But the weeds of this world – worries, conflicts, distractions, and so on, choke out the faith in these people.

Seeds placed in good soil yield a decent crop. So do the seeds of faith planted in the heart of a believer who hears the Word and understands it. These people allow the Gospel message to make a difference in their lives and go out and bear godly fruit. Their roots are strong in Christ and they can withstand the difficulties in this life with the help of the Holy Spirit.

As I examine my garden and view concrete examples of how good soil makes a difference between thriving and not, I am reminded of this parable. I truly want to be the “good soil” where the Gospel message can flourish and be outpoured onto others. But often I am like the thorny ground where I let the world’s worries overtake me and choke out my peace and joy. Good soil in the garden needs care and maintenance to be healthy by adding things like compost to enrich it when it gets depleted of nutrients. The same applies to us – we need to take the time to be in God’s Word, with other believers, and in prayer, to build up our faith and stay strong in adversity.

So how is your garden growing today? Do you need some spiritual fertilizer to rejuvenate and get things growing again? What helps you be the “good soil” that is receptive to the Gospel and not overwhelmed by the world’s concerns?

Take time to plant things right. It makes a huge difference.

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