The Battle Against Weeds

 

I saw a meme on social media that said something like this, “Some people say that April showers bring May flowers. Really, April showers bring mud. That’s it. Just mud.” The last few days have been wonderful. I’ve worked in the yard, mowing, raking, burning, planting, weeding, spraying, transplanting…all with the unrealistic expectation that the effort I’m making in April will result in a beautiful yard this summer. I know from experience that weeds will take over and it will be hot and I will be overwhelmed. I am truly enjoying the dream that I will have a picturesque yard this summer. But I am realistic, knowing that I will lose the battle with the weeds. I’m no match for them. So much of what we experience is the joy of expectation. Vacation planning is usually more exciting than the actual vacation. Planning a big event is more fun than cleaning up afterwards. 

What spiritual lesson is there to be learned in this? Solomon speaks on the subject extensively in Ecclesiastes. 

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3

2“Absolute futility,” says the Teacher.

“Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

3 What does a man gain for all his efforts

that he labors at under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

18 Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. 19 God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Solomon begins with the statement that everything is futile. He eventually comes to the conclusion that the most important thing for all humanity is to fear God.

The battle with weeds is not new to me. Weeds entered the world because of sin. We deal with weeds as surely as we deal with the temptation to sin.

Genesis 3:17-18

 And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’:

The ground is cursed because of you.

You will eat from it by means of painful labor

all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

The truly important thing to focus on is not the weeds that overtake my flower beds, but the sin that will overtake my life when I don’t focus on God, obey Him, yield to Him. 

1 Corinthians 10:13-15

 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful, and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape so that you are able to bear it.

14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. 

Verse 13 ties closely with verse 14. Is my desire to have beautiful flower beds idolatry? Remember, idolatry is anything that takes a higher priority in our lives than God. I don’t think flower beds are more important to me than my relationship with God, but are there other things that take my focus off Him?  Focus on God, not the things that tempt us. He will give us a way to escape the temptation but we have to flee from the things that are idols and focus completely on Him.

Matthew 13:18-23

18 “You, then, listen to the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 Yet he has no root in himself, but is short-lived. When pressure or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does bear fruit and yields: some 100, some 60, some 30 times what was sown.”

For our lives to be beautiful flower beds, or good food crops, we have to have a good root system, to hear and understand God’s Word and apply it to our lives. Weeds of sin, idolatry, lack of Bible study and applying God’s truths to our lives make us unproductive.

When I enjoy working in the yard, I enjoy the work that God has given me to do. The work is not my idol. The battle with weeds shows me the importance of keeping my focus on God, allowing Him to give me the ability to resist temptation, to have a good root system that is not choked by sin, and to produce the fruit He desires in my life. Same is true for you.