Growing Up Isn't Just About ME

^"For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:7-8
  
I have been reading through Hebrews lately.  Being at my son's home with 2 little boys doesn't lend itself to much quiet time for deep reflection.  But God provides the insight. :)  He reminds me daily how important it is for me to drink deeply of His word and to live it always.  Little eyes (and big) are watching me.

We've all heard, "God sends the rain on the just and the unjust."  (from Matthew 5:45)  It states here that we should bear usefully for the One who is cultivating us.  So are we letting God garden and groom our lives? Does He use us as He sees fit, or do we spend our blessings on selfish desire and empty promises?  We know who wants us cultivating those thoughts and actions!  

Are you a beautiful herb garden, benefiting the kingdom of God or are you a briar patch?

Let me illustrate it this way:  My son recently moved into a home in southern California and the front and back yards are two very different environments.  The front  yard is kept by someone hired to water and cultivate green grass and neat gardens of rock and plants.  Roses bloom across the street, and a lovely tree shades the front yard of my son's home.  The other day I watched as a tiny hummingbird rested for several minutes on a now-empty plant hanger in that tree.  

But the back yard is a different story.  It is barren of green life; it is native sand and dirt and more sand.  The grass is brown and dry and the stickers are thick and grab on to the animals as they walk through them.  These stickers then drop on the tile and rug when the animals reenter the house and we find them with our feet!  Not pleasant especially in the middle of the night.

The point is, which yard are we? Are we allowing God to cultivate lovely herbs, useful to the kingdom He rules?  Or are we the stickers, weeds and thistles of the world, useful only for being cursed and burned?

Our choice is not only our fate, but the fate of those we influence.  Are we growing in the word, not just for our own benefit and eternal home, but those around us; our children, grandchildren, family, neighbors, and co-workers?  It isn't just a matter of making our own way to heaven.  It's a matter of being useful to God's kingdom.