Don’t Focus On The Weeds
In 1995 I married the Lawn Master. The Lawn Master started cutting lawns at twelve years old. At thirteen years old he had enough customers and equipment to necessitate a cart to be pulled behind his bicycle. By the time we married, the Lawn Master was running two crews and cutting over 200 lawns every week. He budgeted his earnings based not on how many hours it took to earn the money, but by how many lawns had to be cut. He cut enough lawns in those ten years to more than cover a lifetime, and was relieved to sell both his accounts and equipment when we married. He vowed to never cut another lawn!
Fast forward about twenty years, and we had young adolescents in the house. It was time they learned that money came from working, and there was no better lesson than mowing the lawn. As you can guess, with all our children college age and beyond, the job has now fallen back on the Lawn Master. And here in Houston, the lawn has a mighty long growing season.
When spring comes each year, however, those sneaky weeds come with it. Of course, weeds in the lawn are not acceptable to the Lawn Master. I see those weeds and think to myself, “We’ve got to do something to kill those weeds!” The Lawn Master, however, sees the same weeds and thinks, “It’s time to fertilize the lawn.”
For some reason, I doubt him every season. I have zero faith that fertilizing the lawn will eliminate the weeds. I think the weeds need to be dug up, sprayed, or eradicated by some other extreme force. But every season, the Lawn Master is right. We take the time to spread fertilizer and within days we can see the weeds begin to die. After a few more weeks the grass is thick and lush. The Lawn Master is always right about the fertilizer. I concern myself with the weed problem, while his concern is for the health of the lawn. He knows that a thick, healthy lawn will choke out and overtake the weeds.
This is what I was thinking about as I was doing yard work last weekend. The parable Jesus told about the fig tree that did not produce fruit came to mind.
”…A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-8 (NIV)
When Jesus taught in parables He would tell a story to teach a lesson. He would use the characters and other details to illustrate the character and kingdom of God. Jesus began this story with the fact that, “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard.” Now what is a fig tree doing in a vineyard? Fig trees are mentioned several times in the Bible, often linked with the concepts of peace and prosperity (I Kings 4:25). This particular fig tree belonged to a man; but the vinedresser (gardener), no doubt, was the one who decided where it was planted. The vineyard would have the best soil for the tree. The vinedresser planted it there in the vineyard on purpose. He had planted the tree, had been caring for the whole vineyard and, even though the tree appeared unfruitful, he voiced his willingness to give the tree extra care and extra time to begin producing figs. He suggested fertilizing the tree even though that meant extra work for him.
As we dive deeper into the Word and the meaning of this parable, let us begin with reading John 15:1: “I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.” When I see God as the Vinedresser, I see myself as the fig tree. I no more belong in the family of God, planted in His vineyard as a joint-heir with Jesus Christ, than a fig tree belongs in a vineyard. Yet out of His extreme love for me (John 3:16), He himself has carefully selected and provided a place for me, and placed me where I can remain joined to the True Vine and He can personally care for me. Some of His care may seem uncomfortable, like digging and pruning, but He is concerned with my health and fruitfulness.
Like the vinedresser in Jesus’ parable, our God is hands-on. He wants to cultivate health, growth, and fruitfulness in our lives. The Holy Spirit wants to dig up hard places in our hearts so the soil of our heart can receive what we need to thrive. God wants to water us with the refreshing water of His Word, His supernatural fertilizer, that will feed our spirit and give us strength to grow. The ultimate goal of the Vinedresser is abundant life, abundant growth, and abundant fruit (John 10:10, John 15:2)!
We can be thankful that the Vinedresser does not merely focus on our weeds like I do with the lawn. He, like the Lawn Master, knows that abundant life chokes out the weeds. Overall health and vitality is the goal. We can also be thankful that the Holy Spirit is hands-on, ever present and attending watchfully in His care over us. Last, we can be thankful for the patience and gentleness of God. He does not give up on us easily! But, rather, cares tenderly for us, supplies what we are lacking, and encourages our growth.
Even today, the Vinedresser is attending watchfully over you when you are a believer in Christ. He chose you and provided a place in His very own family for you. The Holy Spirit is ever present with you to provide all you need for health and growth. I pray that we all keep our hearts open to the work of God in our lives. By going deeper in the Bible and our relationship with Him we are inviting Him to attend watchfully to us, weeds and all. And let’s remember, there is abundance ahead!
