Support

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