Pests in the Garden

One of the joys of life is picking a ripe vegetable from you garden, brushing off the dirt and taking the first bite. The fullness of flavor excites our taste buds as we bite into the juicy beefsteak tomato or the crisp carrot. As colorful and enticing the vegetables look at the supermarket you can’t top the flavor and enjoyment of your own harvest of vegetables. In part I think it is due to our personal investment with our garden. John Maxwell, Winning with People, states the “Gardening Principle – all relationships need cultivation to grow”, as an illustration of our time and effort in developing relationships. In gardening there are pests that can destroy your crops, there are also pests that can damage and destroy your relationships as well.

From slugs, caterpillars to aphids, there are a number of pests that eat, damage and destroy your once healthy, vibrant plant. One of the most sickening moments you can have is to take a big bite of a tomato or fruit and find a half a worm. Just the thought makes me gag. Within our relationships at home, church or workplace we find there are pests that eat, damage and even destroy the friendships that were once thriving. Broken relationships generally don’t happen over one event or day, but over time with neglect and a pest is usually present.

One pest that destroys relationships is self-centeredness. When our lives each day are consumed by our needs, our desires, our goals, our wishes then others simply become either stepping stones or obstacles. In the end they will never fulfill our need. You will find this pest in the professional in their time and energy exerted in the workplace - striving, earning, achieving. You will find this pest within the home, when a loved one does not meet your expectations. You will find this pest within your friendships, when it’s one-sided.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we naturally have this pest of self-centeredness “For everyone looks out for his own interest, not those of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 2:21). Yet, we are also challenged, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:4-5).

The pesticide for the pest of self-centeredness is love, to have the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. That is a powerful example and command. When we begin to eradicate this pest from our relationships we will enjoy the sweet and life giving harvest of our garden.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim