Galatians 6:7-10

Galatians 6:7-10The Message (MSG)

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

I have to admit that gardening metaphors are sometimes lost on me.  I've never been a gardener.

But whether you are a gardener or not, you know something about weeds. Even I know something about weeds.  The unspectacular garden in the front of my house boasts a bunch of them, and I know enough to know I don't want them to hang around!

So for those of you who do garden - and all of you who know something about weeds - it's pretty clear which you want, right? A full harvest or weeds?

I've gotten excited when I got one flower to bloom and not die on me, so I can imagine the sheer joy felt with a full harvest.

An abundant harvest!

And that's what God wants for us.  Sheer joy.

Because the truth is, when our life is bearing fruit, it doesn't just bring joy to those around us, it brings joy to us as well. 

Good Gardener: make of me a full harvest. Amen!