Despite having tilled my garden space and put down weed barrier cloth, there are still weeds in my garden. Ugh, I wish there weren’t.

Weeds can sap water and nutrients away from my vegetable plants. Weeds can entangle my young plants and pull them to the ground.

Weeds are unavoidable. The garden is in the yard, so, of course, the yard creeps into the garden space. Weeding is without a doubt my least favorite part of gardening, but I need to do it, because the weeds will hinder my plant’s growth.

Jesus compared the cares and pleasures of life to weeds.

As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Luke 8:14.

I live in the world, so, of course, the cares and pleasures of the world creep into my relationship with God. I need to weed them out before they sap my resources, hinder my growth, choke out the Spirit, and pull me to the ground.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely. Hebrews 12:1.

The cares and pleasures of the world are not bad things, as weeds are not bad things. In fact, by definition, weeds are just plants growing where you don’t want them to grow. Dandelions provide many benefits for the soil and for humans, but I don’t want them in my garden.

The best advice is to weed daily. Every time I go out to the garden, I look for weeds and pull a few. Normally, these are the weeds that are encroaching on the plants, or are big and visible. I try to pull these before they become too well established and cause problems. Ideally, this would keep my garden weed-free, but it doesn’t. To really rid my garden of weeds, I have to set aside more time than my morning walk- though allows. To really examine those things that are hindering my spiritual growth and weed them out of my life may take more time than my morning devotional time allows. I may need to set aside a time for just this purpose and ask God to show me the weeds.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24.

Perhaps I don’t like to weed because I rather like weeds. I love to see an abandoned field covered in wildflowers. I love the dainty white and purple and yellow blossoms throughout my yard before the movers cut them down. That dandelion pushing through the concrete inspires me. God has brought beauty to the world in the most unlikely places; what an amazing gift! Just so, God has given us earthly pleasures like good food and wine and fellowship. They all have their place. Weeding our spiritual garden does not mean we are to become puritanical in our elimination of earthly joys, but we are to keep them in their proper place, keep them from becoming our focus.

Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-32.

And you know what? There is beauty in a weed-free garden. With help, I cleared my tomatoes, peppers and carrots of weeds and added mulch to help prevent further growth. My cucumbers, pictured above, are next. I know the weeds will creep back, mandating my continued vigilance, but there is a weightlessness, a sense of relief, an optimism that forces a smile upon my face as I look at my weed free garden space. Joy – a fruit of the Spirit.

Betsy

As I walk along the garden in the mornings, the new growth amazes me. How proud I am of these little plants who are growing bigger and stronger every day! They stretch out their arms and reach for the sun; little yellow blossoms and tiny green tomatoes emerge unannounced. I know I had very little to do with this. God is growing these plants, and it is marvelous in my sight!

I do have a role to play as they grow, however. I need to keep the branches resting on the supports. Since they are growing so quickly, I need to check on them often. Ever so gently, I lift the growing branch and rest it in the provided structure, the tomato cage. Metal uprights, braced by layers of rings and firmly planted in the soil, these structures allows the plant to bear the weight of the emerging fruit. Without the structure, the limb would fall to the ground; the fruit would sit in the soil; the tomato would rot.

Some fruit, like winter squash, pumpkins, and watermelon, have thick rinds that protect the yummy goodness from their surroundings, but tomatoes do not. Their thinner skins would be pierced by the mulch and bruised by the ground.  They need structure to lean on, structure to support them.

Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 4:11.

My circle of Christian friends, my church, my Bible study groups, my family, these are the structures in my life that support my growth. Without them, I have no doubt that I would be lying on the ground, rotting. Most of us do not have thick enough skins to go through life without support, without structure. We need solid, sturdy support that can bear our weight. Our support needs to come from upright people, braced by layers of faith, and firmly planted in God’s Word.

And we need to be that support for others as well. All of us, at one time or another, need each other. Even Moses needed the help of others to fulfill God’s will.

Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amelek prevailed. But Moses’ arms grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and the other on the other side, so his hands were steady. Exodus 17:11-12.

And do you know why these fine fellows knew Moses needed help? Because they were there with him. If I do not go out and check on my tomato plants daily, the branches can become too big to be lifted and placed on the support. Trying to tuck them back inside the cage could break off the limb, losing the fruit. If we are not available to our friends, then we may never know they need support. If we do not alert our friends to our need for help, we may be risking losing our own fruit. We must support each other, and allow others to support us.

It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:26-28.

Sometimes it can be humbling to ask for help; sometimes it can be demanding to provide it. But God calls us to humble ourselves (Luke14:11), and look to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

All in the name of bearing fruit for the Kingdom. If we keep that as our first goal, then whatever it takes to help that fruit grow, to keep that fruit from rotting on the ground, is not humiliating or a burden.

Then we will share in the joy of seeing those yellow blossoms and little green tomatoes ripen into wonderful, delicious fruit.

This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23.

Betsy