Tag Archives: honoring God

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First Fruits

Phil and I picked the first run of beans from our garden Monday, snapped them, and then I canned 14 quarts. The first run of beans are always so pretty! Not a blemish, spot, or bad place on these beans. There is a feeling of satisfaction when the jars all seal and you see the fruits of your labor.

Yet there is always a realization that the “first fruit” or result of the garden is not just dependent on our work. There are many things that are outside our control when gardening. I was reminded of this as I canned the beans this week. Last year I did not can ANY beans – nary-a-one! I believe Phil planted beans 3 times and each time those first tender leaves appeared, groundhogs ate EVERY leaf. Needless to say we had no beans. Phil worked hard to eradicate the pests, but to no avail. The critters did not bother our squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, or lettuce. Just the beans. (something did munch on my lovely pumpkins last year just before I was going to gather them)

This year we have seen no pests so far. We have no idea why but we are so thankful!

God is honored when we recognize him as the source of all we have. We may plant the seeds, water them, and gather the harvest – yet who created the seed, the water to sprout the seed, and the soil to nurture the growth? We partner with the God of creation when we garden.

Proverbs 3:9-10 refers to first fruit.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.

It is a blessing to have vegetables and fruit to gather, put up for later use, and the ability to share some with others. Some years we have had an abundance of produce, some years, not so much. Sometimes we have been on the receiving end of vegetables and fruit from others’ gardens.

For me the message of this passage in Proverbs is to cultivate an attitude of humility. To acknowledge God as the source of our harvest and the results of our labor whether it is from the garden, our work place. or our homes. Humility also means that I acknowledge the responsibility to offer what I have to others as the “first fruits” that belong to God the creator. The first fruits should be from the best I have, not the “leftovers” or what I no longer want.

God deserves my best.

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Who Will See?

This year of 2020 has been a year of challenges. No matter where we live, or who we are, COVID 19 has affected our lives in some way, big or small. Some of these effects will end, hopefully soon. Some will continue because we have been challenged to see our lives and priorities in a new way.

As most of you know, because it is the theme of many of my posts, my “hobby” is gardening. I love working outdoors in our yard which is surrounded by woods. Being outside renews my soul and puts me in the mind-set of communing with my Heavenly Father.

Actually, it all started in a garden, didn’t it? Creation, relationship with our Creator, human’s fall into sin….. all began in a garden. I feel God’s presence most personally in our garden.

Phil and I work hard on tending our plants and keeping the weeds at bay. Because of COVID 19, we have been home much more this year. Meetings in our community, trips overseas, visits out of state, gatherings with friends – all have been cancelled. So, I found myself devoting more time to tending our garden than I ever have before.

The results of that work shows.

But who sees it?

The entrance to our home looks so lovely and inviting – but no one comes to visit.

I cut these flowers and arranged them, but no one was invited to share our table.

So, what is the meaning of all the work if no one sees the end result?

I “drag” Phil around the yard to see a new bloom. I obviously take pictures, but all you gardeners know that a picture does not touch the vibrancy of the color in real life, nor can a photo transmit the smell that emanates from the bloom. Pictures are a nice but incomplete image of the real thing.

So these thoughts caused me to contemplate my motivation for my gardening efforts. Do I do this work so it will be seen by others? Am I just acting on compulsion – driven by some unknown need to pull weeds? (some of my children think that is indeed the case)

Jesus teaches about our motivation for praying in Matthew 6: 5,6

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Now gardening is not prayer, but I do view my gardening efforts as an act of worship, of tending God’s creation. These verses encourage me to continue tending, weeding, trimming, pruning, and nurturing. The point is not if anyone else sees it, the point is in the doing. God sees.

It does bring me joy to see plants flourish. There are probably many activities that we are currently doing that are not noticed, especially during these times of staying home and staying safe.

So, continue doing what pleases the Father, whether it is noticed or not.

#26 In My Garden with God

Full Disclosure: We have had family come, and some friends who have driven through the driveway. They have fed my extroverted soul as well.