Watering the Seeds of Our Efforts

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;
but God that giveth the increase.” I Corinthians 3:7

Life requires water. It’s a provision we often take for granted. That is, until it becomes polluted, gets cut off or dries up. When we lose access to it, we realize how essential it is to daily living. Like breathing, very little in God’s creation can live without it. Every seed we plant and want to see produce needs the nourishing benefits of hydration.

Remembering to hydrate is easy to forget. It’s a daily struggle. I use to go most of my day without drinking and would get dehydrated. I would also only water my plants when I felt like it:

• Inconsistently
• Too much
• Too little
• Not at all

As a result, my plants withered, turned yellow, dried up and died. I’d blame my schedule, and the plant, the weather or pests. Surely my poor watering habits didn’t cause its demise or my poor health.

I’ve treated the seeds of my efforts the same way. I’ve planted ideas only to watch them wither. I’ve blamed everyone and everything for the fruitlessness of my endeavors. I’ve pondered excuses like, “This was a bad idea, or if only ‘those’ people didn’t hinder me, or if pestilences hadn’t overtaken the new growth…”  But, no matter who or what I blamed, the ultimate downfall of my plants, health and efforts has always pointed back to me. I’ve failed to produce because I’ve failed to nourish production.

One Plants

Have you ever noticed how often things grow that we don’t plant, like weeds and wildflowers? And, when we plant a seed or transplant a seedling, they often come from another source or place?

Others also plant seeds in our lives like parents, teachers, churches, friends, co-workers and mentors. I’m thankful for the many people who have planted seeds in my garden that have helped cultivate growth in my life.

One Waters

Some of the seeds in my life have been fertile and flourished while others faltered and failed. Some I fed and others I starved. At times, I’ve prayed, pleaded, begged and bartered for God to make those seeds profitable and productive, often to no avail. It wasn’t because God didn’t do His part. It was because I didn’t do mine. I quit caring and watering the seeds, and my fruitlessness shows the neglect.

God Gives the Increase

God planted a garden in the Garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:8) He knows what gardens need. He also cares for us and is more than willing and able to make our seeds sprout successful, life-sustaining endeavors.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2

Even though I feed, fertilize and water my seeds, I can’t make them grow. As much as I’d like to take credit for a big, juicy tomato or a beautiful bouquet of pink knock-out roses, truth is, I can only tend the garden. God makes it grow.

God gives the increase but we have to pull our weight (and the weeds). Once the seeds are planted, we must do our parts to consistently water and nourish our plants, people and projects.

Bring It Home

Do your gardens or efforts need watering today?
Let’s grab our watering cans…

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC