Brenda and I enjoyed the show “The Garden Chronicles.” The work, beauty, and commitment to cultivating spaces of beauty and meaning are impressive. The workers are inspiring, connected to creation, and committed to recreation.
The gardens are cultivated and tended by skilled and committed folks who show up every day to water, thin, replant, weed, etc. Some plants are exceptionally delicate, and if a day of watering is missed, the plant could die.
All this work of creating and tending reminds me of ministry. And here is the principle: We reap what we plant, when we plant, and how we plant.
Let me share my mistakes and save you some trouble. If you plant grass in the Midwest in late spring, the sun will kill its shallow roots. If you plant day lilies in the shade, they don’t grow well or bloom; if you plant hostas in the sun, they will die.
The real revelation for us has been the value of Perennials vs Annuals. Contrary to the sound, annuals do not come up annually (I learned that the hard was as well). They are one-and-done vs. Perennials, which come back year after year and pay dividends on your investment. They spread naturally as well.
What (or Kind)
My question is, what are you planting this spring? It is the dead of winter, but spring planting (establishing leadership for an effective fall ministry season) will start soon. I have seen firsthand the effort and toil involved in planting annuals for each new year of ministry. It takes tons of effort, expense, and emotional investment- all to see it die out like an annual.
Remember, We reap what we plant, when we plant, and how we plant.
As you think about your current and spring ministry, what could you do to plant perennials? What kind of seeds are your conversations and actions planting?
If you are disappointed with what you see growing, it might be helpful to look back and see what seeds you’ve sown.
The great news is perennials give birth to more perennials. That is the “What” or kind of planting. As you invest in Word and Spirit-dependent disciples, not mentor-dependent, you show them how to reproduce in kind.
Annuals produce more flowers than perennials; their life is short so they put extra effort into making flowers (seeds). But modern, engineered annuals are all show.
How does the temptation to put on a good show sometimes undermine long-term ministry and true multiplication?
When
We reap “when” we sow. It is the hard-working farmer that shares in the harvest, 2nd Tim. 2:6 . And we will reap if we do not give up, Gal 6:9. We have to be folks who do not quit, who know that sometimes we plant and get nothing but we persist because of God’s promises.
We also need to be wise planters. How is the timing of your planting affecting your garden? We know the Fall is the best time to plant seeds in students' lives, but what does that mean for other seasons? When will someone prepare the soil, fix the tools, and scout the fields? All this work must be done ahead of time to be ready.
Have you persisted in planting after ministry discouragement?
What must you do now to be ready for the planting moment?
What can be done now to free you up during the planting season?
How
This relates to the “What” we talked about earlier. The “How” is the skill and science of planting. When you think of ministry, all these questions are related.
What area should I plant?
Where is the gospel most needed?
Where would it grow effectively?
What can I bring to the soil to amend it?
This could mean what information or mindset do I bring?
What cultural realities do I need to consider?
What expectations do I bring to this planting that may undermine gospel fruitfulness?
Additional discussions: how do these truths influence our viewpoint?
The Father is Lord of the Harvest (Matthew 9:38)
We are day laborers in His garden.
God causes the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6)
We have been born again by His imperishable seed of the gospel (1st Peter 1:23)
There are seasons, but the Lord (and his laborers) are always planting. (John 4:35)
The Lord of the Harvest is always working, even as we sabbath. (John 5:17)
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