How Does Your Garden Grow? L.M.Reeves
Genesis 2: 8,9,10, & 15
"And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
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In our lifetime we plant many gardens. Whether wittingly or unwittingly, we sow a multitude of seeds on a daily basis. Seeds unto others and seeds unto ourselves fall to the earth of each of our lives. Some of us are very young, some middle-aged, some older, and some… older than that! Some of us are eager to “begin our lives”, some of us are in the midst of our lives. Some of us are living with our parents still, some out on our own, some with spouses and some single, some even beyond that and living out our years with our spouses gone on as well as others of our family and many of our friends. In the course of the years of our lives we will have planted and reaped many gardens.
By the time we can walk and talk we begin to realize that we are able to reap fruit from what we sow. Some of that fruit we like and some of it we do not. Soon, in the flesh, we learn to manipulate as many of our circumstances as we are able in hopes of seeing the desired results.
In the Word of God we learn the principles of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7 & 8 tells us, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Don’t be deceived, know the peril and know the promise of sowing and reaping.
Sowing and reaping the fruit of the seeds we plant must have a plan, a purpose, a pattern and priorities. God has that master plan for the gardens we sow. Lets look at His example of the perfect garden and let’s see how the First Lady of the Bible did in God’s garden of perfection.
The Garden of Eden
God’s Plan for the Garden of Eden was to make it beautiful.
1. God planted it – established it with a specific design.
We should design our garden with premeditation, thought.
(Pr 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.) Make plans on purpose!! Purpose in your heart to have God in mind as you sow seeds… in the heart and the mind of others and yourself!
2. God made it to grow – gave it rich, full, abundant life.
We should design our garden so that we give it life.
(Ps 119:159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy loving kindness.) Grow our hearts and others’ with the Bible, the living words of God.
3. God made it pleasant to the sight – to be delighted in greatly.
We should design our garden to be pleasant to the sight.
(Ps 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.) Pleasure comes from orderliness, orderliness comes from following God’s Word.
4. God made it good for food – pleasant, wonderful sustenance.
We should design our garden to be food for the soul.
(Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.) Supporting our husbands, teaching our children, encouraging our friends needs to be done from God’s words.
5. God put the Tree of Life, and the Tree of Knowledge of
Good and Evil in it – God’s treasures of life and knowledge. Design your garden around the treasures of God. (Pr 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. Matt 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:)
6. God watered His garden by a river flowing out of Eden – continual refreshing. Design your garden to be well watered. (Pr 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.) Living water, healing water, cleansing water ( John 4 and Eph 5).
God’s Purpose for the Garden of Eden was to make it a place of pleasure.
1. His purpose was for Adam to live in a place of pleasure (Gen 2:15) – he took Adam there. We should make our garden a place of pleasure. (Ps 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.) Live in the fear of the Lord and hope in his mercy.
2. His purpose was for Adam to serve God in a place of pleasure – dress it. We should make our garden a place of service. (Ps 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.) Service is not always doing, but, also living a faithful walk in a perfect way!
3. His purpose was for Adam to guard that place of pleasure – keep it. We should make our garden a place that is guarded. (Ps 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.) Keeping judgment and doing righteousness brings the blessing of God.
4. His purpose was for Adam and his family to live in obedience to God in a place of pleasure.
a. God gave Adam instructions. (Gen 2:16 & 17a)
b. God gave Adam warning . (Gen 2:17b)
c. God gave Adam a help meet to his needs. (Gen 2:19-22)
We should make our garden a place of obedience.
a. Accept God’s instructions –by accepting the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus Christ as your Saviour
b. Accept God’s warnings – by accepting the living word of God to Water your life.
c. Accept God’s help – by accepting the power of the Holy Spirit to live your life.
God’s Pattern for the Garden was to give order and bring glory to himself and happiness to Adam and his family.
1. God – God is first above all in God’s order
2. Man – God set man over the woman
3. Woman – God gave woman to the man
4. Creation – God gave man dominion
God’s pattern should be our Priority for our garden!
The First Lady of the Bible was Eve!
1. She was the first Woman – created in a perfect environment.
2. She was the first Wife – created as the perfect help to Adam.
3. She was the first Mother – responsible, with Adam, to teach.
4. She was the first Deceived – by not guarding God’s words.
5. She was the first to Commit Sin – by following the flesh.
Her Plan was to follow her God.
Her Purpose was to glorify her God.
Her Pattern was broken by sin.
God’s Plan Being First Best of Circumstances
+God’s Purpose +Being Best +Best of Intentions
+God’s Pattern +Being in Charge +Best of Education
God’s Blessings! Being Deceived Best of the World
The First Lady of the Bible sought to have that which seemed to be desirable. Don’t be fooled. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7&8) Sow the seeds of truth and wisdom. Sow the seeds of salvation and obedience. Reap the fruits of righteousness in your garden and in the lives of those you love.
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