Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 16 2023
Thriving in a Field of Weeds
If weeds dominate an area, it’s likely that something is wrong with either the growing conditions or your lawn care practices.
Experts say Weeds thrive in thinning grass. The best way to keep weeds out is to have thick, tall, dense grass all over your lawn. That’s a solid way to starve off the weeds so that it can naturally defend itself. It’s easy to see the parallel of staying strong in our walk with God, fertilizing the ground with God’s word, and keeping it watered, so the weeds don’t have such an easy time gaining ground.
You know the story but can we read the Parable of the Weeds in Matt 13?
“A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.
5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7 Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.
21 But since they have no roots, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
The weeds represent those people who do not listen to God’s word, they are
“sons of the evil one” who will go to the fiery furnace of hell at the end of time. The harvest workers are the angels and harvest time is the end of the age. This means that on Earth, good and bad people will grow and live together. The good seeds are the sons of the kingdom. You and me. Remember we said, the presence of weeds usually signifies a symptom of a problem;
Some do begin planting some good seeds purposely, but the old remnant of weeds still run strong and stunted their growth and stole their fruit. The effort they had put in was not enough because the roots of their past were still too pronounced and “welcomed”, to give the new life a chance to thrive and survive.
We must get to a place of spiritual maturity to realize that when we see those weeds it is a symptom of a root problem. I started to realize my joy was not so bright. I seemed to lack the needed motivation to serve or get up a little early to read his word and feed myself with the nutrients of life spiritually
There are a lot of common weeds in our life but each of us is unique. Satan has a specific blueprint of a plan for each of us. Self Doubt, too much overtime, too busy, a lack of boundaries, or not learning how to say no. Technology, the infiltration of being too petty, cynical, snappy, or judgmental.
They are all weeds that can become idols.
When was the last time you took inventory of the condition and the nutrients in your garden? Is the soil deficient, the ground too compacted and hard-hearted,
Is your ph factor off?
The lawn guy says the best way to fight off weeds is to have a healthy, long, and thick lawn. When you notice that crispness and rich greenness is diminishing it is trying to tell you something is wrong under the surface. Be discerning!
Some plant species become weedy pests because they possess specific attributes or characteristics that allow them to succeed and thrive in disturbed areas. It seems some people have more of a propensity for alcohol or anger or unforgiveness. What’s yours?
Controlling the weeds in our garden is not a one-time thing. The same ones seem to come back, over and over. It’s like our soil is a playground for that type of weed. Matt 12:43 talks about putting out one spirit but because the house was not kept clean, he brought 7 more spirits on his return.
All of this may be a good metaphor but it is really serious. When you have little ones and you discover poison ivy in your yard you don’t deal with it casually. It’s a right now, call an expert, and take some severe action to keep this from harming the family…marriage, or me! It is the same way with the weeds that choke our spiritual life with God. Have you ever seen what unattended chinch bugs do to your lawn?
I used to be in the landscaping business and I have still been stung by them. I actually watered them at first thinking they just needed water but too late, discovered they had spread quickly, and half my lawn had been eaten up and I needed new turf.
- You will need some quiet time to assess the depth of real damage, regularly.
2. Ask God to help you discern the greenness of your garden. Meditate.
3. You will need to fortify your soil with the fertilizer and the truth of God’s word.
4. You will need to talk to God and receive some direction on keeping your life healthy, growing, and green. Prayer.
5. Give yourself some grace. This isn’t about comparing how tall your grass is to your neighbor. but being real with God, receptive to friends that you give permission to call you out.
6. Realize where your hope comes from. Where true grace comes from. Ask a small group of friends or accountability partners to help you keep eyes on these weeds that grow slowly but can really do damage.
Thriving in a field of weeds is the world we live in. There is a scripture in Matt 13:30 that says “Let the weeds and the wheat grow together until the harvest time. At harvest time, I will tell the workers this: First, gather the weeds and tie them together to be burned. Then gather the wheat and bring it to my barn.”
I read in a commentary:
Jesus makes it clear that in this world, the wheat needs to grow alongside the weeds until the Son of Man comes. Always remember,
The mission of the church is sowing seeds not pulling weeds.
We have a big enough challenge on our hands trying to deal with sin in our own hearts, our own families, and our own churches. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t watch where we walk and who we walk with.
We are supposed to be salt to them. In the natural that cannot be done but with God, all things are Yes and Amen In Jesus! Thriving in a field of weeds?…
Paul and the apostles did, Jesus did…and His children…you and I will too.
Be that light on a hill for the whole city to see.
Building 429 I will fear no more
