I have this plant sitting in my office, where no matter the time of year, if the sun is shining, it is 82 degrees in that office. I brought the plant here because it was languishing at home, where the house is on the colder side, especially in the winter. The plant was a gift, so I figured I should at least try to keep it alive, rare as that occurrence would be, if you know me and plants.
Problem is, the soil could not be kept moist because of the pot it is in, hard to explain, trust me on this. Anyway, I found a way to put water in a bowl, and set the pot in the bowl, and the soil can now absorb the water it needs, as it needs it. Brilliant! And so I waited a day, two days, picked off the dead leaves (found a stink bug along the way, different story), and finally, I saw signs of new life; the plant has this fresh green-ness appearing. I think it's going to make it.
But see, I want to water it every day, I want to make it grow, faster, stronger, and I want it to grow now. I just felt the soil, it is plenty moist; it does not need me to water it today. So I have to sit back and let it grow, without my input today, resting on the work I put into it two days ago. Oh, it will need water again, maybe not tomorrow, maybe the day after that, I have to wait and see. But that kills my impatience to make this whole plant-growing thing work according to my plan!
Paul dealt with this "watering" concept in his first letter to Corinth:
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building." (1 Cor. 3:6-9)
It's like this with people. I pray we are planting seeds of the Gospel everywhere we go, and even seeds of discipleship as well. Most often, at least it seems for me, I get a chance to "water" a new convert, or a struggling believer, or a rebellious Christian, the opportunities seem endless. God has us here to plant, yes. God also has us here to water those plants, but not to cause the growth. That's HIS job, and we often forget that. We think if we water, and water, and water, and then water some more, regardless of whether or not the recipient is ready, and then expect results.
My office plant showed results in days, and you know what, believers just might, too. You know what? Some may take years. Are we OK with that? OR do we have to force OUR way onto the process, and show God how it's going to be done? Perhaps we have been frustrated by lack of results. Who are we to judge those results and the timing? Let's do this, let's water as often as needed, and let's pay better attention to the clues we get back in the process. They are there. And let's behave as "fellow workers", and actually pray for one another's work, and then let's sit back and watch GOD do His things.
It is glorious!
***
Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator
No comments:
Post a Comment