How are you growing? It takes more than sprinklers

 

How are you growing? Apparently, a good lawn takes more than sprinklers.  I run my sprinklers 3x a week, but the water has not saved it. Of course, I blame the Virginia heat and the 6 massive pin oaks in my yard that soak up every last drop of water. The truth is, I have neglected my once-green lawn, and it’s now dried up and full of crabgrass. The lawn I had in the spring no longer exists.

Plenty of my neighbors have lawns that look like green velvet. They’ve taken down their giant trees. They have invested thousands of dollars for men in white coveralls to come with their eco-friendly weed killers and fertilize their lawns on a regular basis. They have a team of people who weekly cut, trim and cultivate their grass. They are out there themselves, weeding and trimming grass with their little shears in the early morning. (Maybe not true. I’m still in bed then.)

And so after a month of high 90s heat and humidity, they have grass. I have weeds and dirt.

My lawn is like my life. Deep roots sustain me, if I water and fertilize myself. If I prioritize. If I work in the early morning hours when I could be sleeping.

But I will dry up (and I do) whenever I assume that just because my grass looks fantastic in April, it will withstand a few months of brutal heat. Nobody can sustain a lawn because it was once healthy. And nobody can sustain a spiritual life because it was once healthy, either.

Sowing and reaping is about more than lawns. It’s a life principle.

“Don’t hold back” is an inspirational expression given by coaches and teachers to hesitant players and students. It really can apply to anything, but it’s more than a meme. It’s a sowing and reaping principle.

Don’t be afraid. Don’t hesitate. Take your opportunities. Take a chance. Risk it all.

The Apostle Paul said this first in the first century. It wasn’t an inspiring catch-phrase then. It was a matter of physical and spiritual life or death, .

“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” (1 Cor. 15:58, The Message)

Throw yourselves into the work of Jesus. Nothing you do for him is a waste of time.

Living for Jesus every day, at work and in our homes and neighborhoods can feel like time wasted. That’s why we stop going to church and reading the Bible. We assume that because we did the work at some point in our past, we’re still good. The roots are there. We forget that other things dry up the occasional watering we give ourselves.

The most important phrase in this verse is for the Master. Our work is FOR JESUS, not for ourselves. We often work for the sake of doing good, feeling good, salving our consciences, hoping our work yields positive results. That’s why our good work can feel like waste of time. It’s dependent on successful outcomes we can see or explain. If we’re going to work hard, we require guaranteed, desirable results.

When we work for ourselves, it can manifest like this:

• disappointed by pastors and church leaders
• angered by fellow church members
• separation in friendships
• insecurity
• guilt and blame
• arrogance and offense at others’ lack of concern for us

When I work for Jesus only, I choose to believe Psalm 126:5–“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul warns the church that if they sow carnal pursuits, they will reap carnal rewards, but if they sow spiritual pursuits, they will reap spiritual rewards. We get what we invest. When we invest over the long-haul, we reap faith and maturity. We model discipleship to our kids. We invest in a kingdom that doesn’t revolve around us. We sow into the future.

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:7-9 NIV)

So how do I grow?

• attend your church weekly (consistency is key to sustainable growth)
• join a small group–make relationships and be accountable to grow
• read your Bible every day, even a little bit
• pray–keeping a journal can help
• invest in God’s mission through sharing your story, serving at church, giving to your church

Don’t hold back on your spiritual investment. There’s a harvest coming, whether you see it or not. What kind of lawn will you have?

Here’s a prayer to start your day:

Lord Jesus,

Strengthen my faith so that I don’t give up

believing you will do a great work

and working to expand the kingdom.

I believe you are working,

even when I can’t see it.

I believe that you love me

because you have proven that you do.

I believe that you see me and know me

because you say that you do.

I believe that you will use me

because you created me for purpose.

I trust you,

and I serve you alone.

In your precious name,

Amen.