Weeds

My family and I were enjoying a beautiful evening. From where I was sitting I could see a weed that had grown quite large close to the fence. I went over, took hold and tugged, nothing happened. I grabbed ahold with two hands and braced myself for a strong pull, still nothing. This “little” weed had taken such root that I think I will have to get a saw to cut it out. 

I was thinking about how dangerous weeds can be in our life. Weeds come from a lack of daily care. They grow whether the space has been mowed regularly or watered consistently. They can grow to a degree that they overwhelm the area that once was a maintained space. Weeds are annoying in the physical, but deadly in the spiritual. 

“I went by the field of the lazy man, And by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest; So shall your poverty come like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭24:30-34 NKJV

It is so easy to slumber and disregard the daily matienance of our spiritual life. But if left alone weeds like bitterness, envy and poor discipline start to grow. It’s not just a problem of an unsightly space, but those weeds begin to pull nutrients from fruit bearing plants. If our life is full of envy and strife the fruits of the Spirit will not be present and we are unable to bear fruit, which is what each of us are called to do. 

Lord, help me be consistent in maintaining my spiritual “garden.” Help me rid myself of any weeds that try to sprout up and detour me from tending the fruit bearing plants in my life.