I am an aspiring gardener. A few years ago, I had some family members help me plant a small garden on my mother-in-law's historic garden plot. The results were distinctly mixed, mainly because that property is nearly 30 minutes from my home; and, I could not (well, did not) tend it faithfully. As a result, it became overrun by weeds and pests and so forth. The yield was meager.
Today's text is Galatians 6:6-10. Paul warns us that, if as Christians we live only to please ourselves, we will harvest a life of weeds. What we plant we will harvest. It is a spiritual principle, as well as a principle of successful farming.
6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.
7-8 Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.
9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
What is this generous, common life that Paul references? In other versions, it is called "eternal life", and it is! However, people, we have got to grab hold of the notion that "eternal life" doesn't start when we die. For the Christian, eternal life is NOW. Every person, Christian or not, has a body, soul and spirit. The two latter will live somewhere forever, in the next realm. Those who are depending on Jesus Christ's redeeming and finished work to cancel their sin debt will continue to live on for eternity with Him, in Heaven. Those who choose to reject Him and live a weed-infested life will go on to the place of torment upon leaving this earthly dimension, this mortal plane. Such is Hell (both in this life and the next). In other versions the translation calls it "destruction" (NIV).
I love this passage of Scripture because it provides the appropriate context to a life of "good works". These are NOT the good works done in an attempt to gain salvation. That type of effort is useless because we cannot do enough to earn salvation on our own. These works are done out of joyful obedience, out of overflowing gratitude for the magnificent grace of our Savior!
At the time of this writing, spring has come to the South. The gardeners I know eagerly await the spring season. They literally "count the days" until they can get out in the vegetable beds or flower beds and plant their seeds or seedlings. It is this kind of longing, of excitement, of anticipation which should accompany our "good works". Are we as eager to "sow seeds" for the kingdom of Christ? We certainly should be!
All gardeners know that gardening is hard work - - work that gets your hands dirty. Adam discovered that when he was expelled from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), and gardening is still hard work! That is why Paul tells us to expect to get fatigued in our "doin' good". He knows that we will, at times, get tired, discouraged, overwhelmed ... weary of it all. He exhorts us though not to give up, not to quit!
One frustrating, but critical, difference - - - where this analogy breaks down - - - is that gardeners can see the fruits of their labor. In a few weeks, they can reap a physical harvest and go enjoy those delicious half-runner pole beans, or squash or tomatoes. In the spiritual realm, not so much! In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul points out that there in Corinth he planted the seed, which Apollos watered. Paul only saw some of the "harvest" and that was from afar. Often times, we plant seeds but do not see the actual harvest. This is one reason for discouragement.
Here is what we have to remember: in both earthly gardening and spiritual gardening, it is GOD who brings the yield. We must let God's Holy Spirit "do the growth work", as The Message puts it. We are not to focus on the output. Our task is to tend the garden. Our ultimate, spiritual harvest will only be seen in Heaven, at the "awards ceremony of Jesus Christ".
Are you not sure where to start? Pray and ask God for opportunities. Paul says that we should start with caring for our brothers and sisters in "the household of faith", your own local family of believers. But, if we stop there, we are missing the opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission! That love for our Christian brothers and sisters should overflow to the rest of the world - - - the lost, mired-down-in-sin world. I promise you this: if you ask God, He will give you opportunities. Each one of us has a unique set of gifts from Him, which we can use to bless others.
Presently, my family is working through the extreme grief of letting a loved one go on into Jesus' arms. As we ride the roller coaster of "ups and downs" involved with such a painful, though temporary, separation, many godly friends are "planting in us". Friends are praying, calling, emailing, visiting, hugging, providing food at the home, etc. It means so much to experience such precious love and care. It eases our pain of loss to some degree.
I cannot name all the godly people who have "planted" into me over the past decades; but, I am grateful for every, single one. I would not be a disciple of Jesus Christ, a "resplendent daughter", had it not been for them. Spiritual reproduction! That's what I'm talking about! Spiritual gardening is not hindered by any earthly climate or season. It is always the right time to "go tend the garden". Let's get back out there, Christians, and get to it!
Lord Jesus, I love You, Your Word and Your people. Thank you for giving us each other, to cheer and encourage at all times, but particularly in times of grief and loss. "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love." Hallelujah! And, amen.
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