My Dead Yard...

Today’s passage in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 pains me.  All of the talk about planting and watering is just a reminder that I have a dead front yard waiting for me…well, this passage and the fact that my wife just asked if I was ever going to finish the project I started 8 months ago.  Ouch.  It is currently a large patch of dirt with a lot of wild grass and weeds.  I have a vision of a lush, green and weed-free yard but have had to content myself with the vision at this point because reality is very brown out there.

The current state of my yard started in the fall of last year.  I unexpectedly came into some money and decided to use those funds for a project that I’ve always wanted to do…install an in ground sprinkler system.  I had no idea of the amount of work I was signing up for when I first started tearing up my yard to do this.  The long and short of it: the sprinkler system is in, the area is prepped and now waits for me to plant…and it’s been waiting a long time.  All of that work and I have yet to throw some seed down and see any results.

It is very easy to get discouraged in our faith and/or ministry, isn’t it?  There are times when it feels like we work our tails off for the Kingdom of God and that it seems to have very little impact.  We begin asking questions like, “is it worth it?” and “is there something else I should be doing with my time?”  We might respond a different way that is marked with jealousy and frustration over things that are out of our control.  We find ourselves thinking destructive thoughts.  “If I had all of the resources they have, I could have success too.”  “If the people I lead would just work harder, get a vision, and pray more then God’s favor would show up.”  “Why does that person always get everything handed to him for nothing?”

It begs for a reminder of what Solomon wrote when he said “unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”  We place a lot of emphasis and weight on the work of man.  All we can do is set the stage.  All we can do is plow the soil, plant some seed and create a space where things can grow.  All we can do is work hard.  That work means nothing without God causing it to grow.  We mustn’t dismiss the importance of doing the work though.  We must continue to create an atmosphere where God can work.  As we continue to plant with our words and water with our actions and pull weeds through discipline and correction, we can count on the success that only God can bring.  It doesn’t happen quickly but it does happen.  I plan on lounging around my front yard this summer in a bed of green lush grass.  I also plan on enjoying what God accomplishes when I work and let Him do what only He can do.