Cut the Weeds

Garden season is in full swing and I’ve found myself in my grandparent’s garden more than ever, taking on duties my grandpa can no longer do.  One of those things is hoeing the weeds out of the garden.  Grandpa has taught me this is the most important part of keeping up a garden, because weeds can suffocate the plants and make it more difficult to pick when the plants are ripe and ready to harvest. 

         I absolutely love working in the garden, and it’s a miracle I physically can.  But even though I love it, I have to admit hoeing is back-breaking work.  Just when I’ve hoed all of the weeds out of the green bean plants, the corn plants need to be hoed, and then when those are done, all of the weeds in the tomato plants have grown again and they need to be cut out.  It’s constant work and it’s a must if you want good and plentiful vegetables to can and enjoy throughout the year.

         I got to thinking how keeping a garden up is very much like working to stay strong in our Christian walk.  If we want to be successful, we must always be “hoeing,” the weeds out of our heart that can prevent us from growing spiritually.  Just like garden work is enjoyable, but hard work, the exact same thing can be said about the life of a Christian.  God is so good to us, He gives us amazing gifts, but if we want to reap good and plentiful fruit as a Christian, then those weeds have to be cut out of our hearts or else they will suffocate our spiritual fruit and make it hard to find our love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Being a Christian may seem daunting and overwhelming at times, but there are three things I think we can do as new creatures in Christ that will keep our weeds hoed. 

         The first thing I think of to keep my weeds hoed is serving others.  Galatians 5:13 says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”  The most humble and selfless act of kindness someone can do is to serve someone else.  When you put others first, not thinking of your own wants and needs, love, joy, and peace will flood your heart and soul.  I have gone on six mission trips and I can tell you from experience when you serve someone else, giving or helping them obtain something they never thought they would receive, well I can tell you, will be on  spiritual cloud nine, because you will know that the service you provided to someone was only because God gave you the ability.  The action and knowledge of what serving can do for your Christian walk will help you keep your weeds hoed. 

         Another weed killer I think of is having Godly friends.  I mean friends who will pray for you, friends you can depend on, friends who will bear your burdens, friends who will challenge you—friendships that have depth and meaning.   We serve a relational God and He created us to crave relationships.  I love the saying, “Find Your Tribe,” and the Bible confirms this is something we need to do.  Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity,” as well as Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, do one person sharpens another.”  I have friends in my life who fit the definition of these verses perfectly.  They have all come in my life at the exact season I needed them.  They have stood by me in adversity and they have sharpen my walk with Christ. I am a stronger Christian because of the impact they have had on my journey.  My friends have helped me cut out any weeds growing in my heart, and if you allow your Christ-minded friends to be your, “iron,” they will help you hoe the weeds out of your spiritual garden as well.

         The third and final way to whack those weeds, and this is the most difficult one— pray for those who have mistreated you.  This is something God has actually been teaching me lately and I have been working hard to do.  Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”  Ouch!  I think everyone can say this isn’t easy to do.  Why should you pray for someone who despitefully uses you when they are in the wrong? How does this make sense when you were striving to be in God’s will, doing what was right, and yet scripture commands you to bless the one who cursed you?  I truly believe Jesus commanded us to do this because it will help and benefit us.  Jesus knew this action would help prevent the weeds of bitterness and resentment grow in our heart toward that person.  I can honestly say that even though this is a profoundly difficult thing to do, it’s also the most profoundly freeing thing you can do.  Praying for people who have despitefully used my family or myself has lightened my burden and my heart.  This may be something you’re reluctant to do, but I assure you when you pray for the person who has been unfair or unkind to you, those weeds won’t stand a chance! 

         Whether it’s a literal garden or the garden of your heart, weeds are a difficult and tricky thing to get rid of.   But always remember and take heart in the fact that  God gave us the tools we need to cut the weeds.