Yesterday (The Sower And The Weeds) I talked about my take on weed control based on The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9).
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. (Mark 4:7)
Jesus is pretty clear about the devastating impact of weeds. They stunt healthy plants and prevent them from living out their purpose. Even the best seed, planted in fertile soil, produces no fruit when weeds are unchecked.
Following Jesus requires a weed-control strategy.
Seems like lots of Christians focus on weeds. They’re all about what’s wrong—with the world and other people. They’re known mostly for what they oppose, what needs to be prevented or outlawed. The weeds are evil and must be eliminated immediately—at all costs.
If you focus primarily on killing weeds, you lose. Weeds are incredibly persistent and resilient. They grow in the most unlikely places and inhospitable conditions. There are always weeds, and they always return. And even if you banish them temporarily, all you’ve done is kill weeds. You still don’t have any grass.
We cannot eradicate weeds from our lives—or the lives of our kids. We can’t pass enough laws or build enough jails. There aren’t enough fences, parental controls, and firewalls.
Every “weed killer” spawns tougher, more sinister new weeds. The culture is pervasive and persistent. Insulating ourselves from the “weeds” is a losing battle.
Weed-killing creates a lot of impressive activity, but it’s a quick fix reaction to a much deeper problem. It’s like painting rotten wood. You’re only covering up the real problem.
I think we’re a weed-killer culture. We fill jails with drug offenders, but drug use increases and fuels powerful, dangerous criminal enterprises. We abolish slavery, prostitution, and child abuse, but 15,000 children are trafficked into the U.S. each year for these purposes.
Jesus’ weed-control guidance focuses on growing healthy turf. He talked mostly about how to live an abundant, healthy life. Like thick turf, people with deep roots and mature, rich lives leave little space for weeds.
When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples, He told them which weeds were most insidious and dangerous.
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19-20)
“The worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things”—those are the weeds in our own yards.
Grow full, abundant, thick turf and pull the weeds in your own yard.
I think that’s His weed-control guidance.
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