Choking Weeds: The Weed of Greed

Jesus also said that the weed of greed (the deceitfulness of wealth) would strangle my garden. A number of years ago I received a modest windfall of money from a business investment. Following my father's model, I invested most of it in a diversity of stocks—depending on my father, an investment letter, and the internet for financial advice. At first, I enjoyed the challenge of nurturing those investments. But at some point, this task became choked with weeds. Each time I logged on to my computer I would scrutinize stock prices and news. I would get excited when my stocks went up -- "Wow! I made $500 today" -- and discouraged when they went down -- "Why did he recommend that stock?!" And then I would churn with indecision: "Should I sell? Should I buy?”

Was it wrong for me to research and track my investments? Not at all. But at some point weeds had sprouted and taken over, entangling my heart with thoughts of making the most money. In the Old Testament economy God limited his people’s pursuit of financial gain. Work on the Sabbath was forbidden. Their yearly calendar included several weeks of worship festivals in Jerusalem. Every seventh year they grew no crops to rest the land (and themselves). Newlyweds were given a one-year honeymoon! Lenders charged no interest. And land titles reverted to the original owners on the Jubilee (every 50th year). Meditating on these policies, I was reminded that God cares more about the value of my soul than the value of my stocks. As a result, I shifted some money to investments that I don't need to watch regularly. I limited how often I check stock prices. I invested in blue chip companies that don't soar or sink in a few hours of trading. Will I make less money? Possibly. Will I have money to live securely in retirement? Only God knows. But I do know that I have knocked back the weed of greed, giving my soul room to grow.

Uprooting the Worry Weed

We worriers feed life-sucking weeds by nurturing tomorrow's troubles. A mother might fret over her daughter's future: "My fourteen year-old is being courted by a boy who doesn't live in a Christian home. What if they become steadies? What if he pressures her to have sex? What if they are forced to get married? What if the marriage doesn’t last? My grandchild will grow up in a broken home!"

Jesus taught that a "today" focus will wilt our worries: "Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." The soil of our lives has limited nutrients. The challenge forthe mother of this teenage girl is to channel the sap of her life into today's opportunities -- "What needs does my daughter have today? What book on dating could we read together? What could I share with her from my morning Bible study?” Annie Dillard calls "today", "time's live skin." Today is our only contact with alive time. It is the only time in which we can enjoy a friendship, commune with God, go for a walk, read a book with our child, plan for my family's needs. When we feed tomorrow's troubles, we choke today’s tasks.

Fighting weeds is exhausting. But late summer is not the time to ease up on our toughest and most persistent enemy--who is vigorously birthing thousands of seeds/soldiers
for next year's battles. Execute those worry weeds today and you will reap a harvest of peace tomorrow.