Did You Know You Are God's Gardener?

What does it take to be a good gardener?  I learned gardening from my mom.  From my earliest age I can remember mom's luscious vegetable garden.  But what was really impressive was her rose garden.  Both these took constant care and cultivating. Before planting, the ground had to have all weeds pulled, then the ground had to be tilled.  Next the seed had to be placed just so far into the ground and far enough apart from each other so that they would grow properly.  

Next came the watering, which had to be done almost daily for the first few weeks after planting the seeds.  As the seeds began to sprout, they needed the right amount of sunshine and water, careful not to overwater them.

A good gardener has two main qualities time and patience.  Time, because he or she has to wait for the seed to take root and then actually sprout life.  But mostly a good gardener is patient.  They wait and wait and wait until the seed brings forth life.  Then the work of cultivating those young plants begins.

When it comes to spreading the Gospel, we are all like gardeners.  I'm reminded of the parable Jesus told of the gardener who goes out and sews seeds that falls on four types of soil.  

The first seeds fell on a path where they were trampled underfoot and devoured by birds.  This first soil represents those who hear the Gospel but then Satan comes and takes it from their hearts so that they do not believe and are not saved.

The second soil is rocky and dry and the seed withers, because it has no water.  This represents those who receive it with joy, but because they have no roots, when trials come, they fall away.

The third soil is where the seed falls among thorns that choke out the life of the seed.  These are people who hear the Word of God but the care and riches and pleasures cause them not to grow and mature.  

The fourth soil is good and represents those who hear the word, hold it fast and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:5-15)

We are all like this gardener sowing seeds.  We throw out the seeds, preach the Gospel, wherever we go and wait for God to sprout growth from the seeds we have sown.  But they fall on these four types of soil.

For about the past 10 years, it seems my seeds have been falling on the first 3 soils.  I've had people receive the Word with joy but as soon as troubles arose in their life, they fell away.  There was another gal I shared the Gospel with for over a year, she heard it and was drawn to Christ, until the cares of her life caused her not to grow and mature.  And then I've seen where I preached the Gospel and right away Satan snatched it out of their hearts.

To say the least, it has been rather discouraging.  I recently threw out seeds to an eager young woman.  So far she has accepted with joy and wants to learn more about the Bible.  As a patient gardener, I'm now waiting to see if that seed will take root and then sprout with a growth of faith.

I was recently reminded by the words of Dr. Bill Bright, Founder of Cru.  He said "Successful witnessing is taking the initiative in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God."  Many of us God has called to be gardeners.  We sew seeds by telling others the Gospel message.   Sometimes God gives us the job of watering the faith of people whom others planted the seeds of faith in.

And on a rare occasion, God sends us to harvest where we did not plant!  This means we actually get to see someone place their faith and trust in Christ.  

Whether God calls us to plant, water, or harvest, all the work has equal value in God's kingdom.  Don't get discouraged if He doesn't have you harvest.  Know your part in the process is vitally important.  God uses all of the work done for His kingdom no matter how small the contribution may see.

1 Corinthians 3:7-8 says, "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor."