Weeds are by definition: a valueless plant that grows on cultivated ground to the injury of a desired crop. They are troublesome plants that usually grow profusely where they are not wanted.
Pulling weeds and sowing seeds is part of life and not just in the garden. Jesus taught that our hearts are like soil and we need to be mindful of what we are planting and allowing to grow in that “soil”. Both weeds and seeds have immense ability to multiply and unless we are diligent and mindful of what attitudes, beliefs, values and desires we are cultivating in our hearts we can easily allow and/or encourage the multiplication of “weeds” – those valueless, troublesome, rapidly growing hindrances, which quickly become detrimental to the good “seeds” we do want to flourish and produce in our lives. (Mark 4:3-8; 13-20)
One good way to spot weeds in our lives is to check our conversations and reactions to people and situations. What are we most excited about? What annoys us? What do we talk with others about? What preoccupies our daily thoughts? Are they good, pure, honourable and worth thinking and talking about, or are they negative, easily offended, grumpy, and ungrateful?
Do a weed and seed inventory today and check up on what is growing in the “soil” of your heart. Just as in the garden it is wisest to catch the weeds before they start to multiply, it’s also wise to catch any “weeds” in our hearts and minds before they run rampant through our lives. Ask God the Master gardener to come and reveal and weed out anything that is or will be troublesome. Act sooner rather than later, because a heart and life left unattended will easily produce a crop of weeds which will kill off and diminish any healthy desirable crop in our life.
The bible says, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9)
“I passed by the field of the sluggard And by the vineyard of the man lacking sense, And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down. When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest. Then your poverty will come as a robber, and your want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:30-34)
Let’s tend to the condition of our hearts today and sow seeds of love, kindness, gratefulness and quality time with God so we produce a mighty harvest of what we actually want, rather than a whole lot of ugly weeds!
Prayer: Lord please help me to get rid of any “weeds” in my life and to be sowing and growing those things that are beneficial. Where necessary would you please come and weed out the troublesome things in my life, and help me to feed the desirable seeds of your Kingdom. In Jesus name Amen.