Weeding My Heart

Proverbs 24:30-34
I went past the field of a sluggard,
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

On my route to work, I pass an empty house covered with vines and weeds. Just last year, I remember seeing porch furniture, flowers growing and lights on. Not anymore, neglect has allowed poison ivy, ragweed and other unfriendly plants to flourish. The greenery has grown up over the porch roof, across windows and up walls.

When I planted my flower garden, one volunteer plant grew that I didn’t recognize. I let it go for a few weeks and then realized it must be a weed. I pulled that invader out and am vigilant about removing any new ones that crop up. But more important than my flower bed, God wants me to dig the weeds—laziness, greed, selfishness, immorality, jealousy, basically sin— out of my heart. Neglected weeds choke out flowers and eventually take over. Sin steals peace and salvation and eventually destroys the heart. I guard my heart by reading the Bible, praying and surrounding myself with family and friends who pray for me. With God’s help I can keep my heart weeded and let his flowers bloom.