I. The last few weeks I noticed my yard was starting to turn green in places. While this is often a welcome sight, it was more disturbing as the weather gets warmer.
A. Each green patch was a collection of weeds trying to get an early start on conquering my yard.
B. I could not do anything about it immediately because we had several rainy days and work days.
C. When I could finally work in the yard, the green patches had grown larger and had flowers.
D. A in years past when pulling weeds or treating them with chemicals, I’ve realized how similar this was to keeping ourselves pure.
II. Ideally, we would all like a beautiful lawn with a rich growth of lush green grass.
A. Most contractors lay sod when they build a house so we often start with a perfect yard.
B. After time wind and animals bring weed seeds into our yard where they can take root and, if unchecked, flourish.
C. What amazes me is that one must spend money and time watering and fertilizing the grass to make it grow strong but weeds seem to thrive on negligence.
III. The weeds in our lives follow a similar pattern.
A. They start small.
- We have a few problems here and there but it does not appear to be serious.
- We may tell the occasional lie or filthy joke, curse, or have lustful thoughts.
B. Of course, we do not intend for it to develop into a serious problem; just an infrequent indulgence.
C. However, as we let these sins take root, they will grow.
D. If we do not strive to eliminate the sinful thoughts and actions, they will spread quickly.
IV. Sin breeds sin.
A. In our experience, we often find it is easier to commit a sin a second time than it was the first time.
- The first time we face a great temptation, we are often mindful of the spiritual consequences and hear the lessons of parents, preachers, and teachers echoing through our minds.
- Yet when we sin—and are not struck by lightning—we become more confident in sinning again.
B. Soon we feel we can hide our sin from others very well and that it is not really hurting us.
C. Like those annoying weeds, sin soon has spread in our hearts.
V. The grass cannot grow where the weeds dominate.
A. When sin grows in our heart, it displaces good.
- James 3:11, “Can a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?”
- Jesus condemned the church in Laodicea for being lukewarm, Revelation 3:15-16
B. We must be committed to righteousness and determine not to let sin take hold in our lives.
- As the weeds take the nutrients from the grass, so sin saps the spiritual strength out of our life.
- We must not “falter between two opinions,” 1 Kings 18:21.
- Titus 2:11-14 – Purposeful change (elimination and dedication)
VI. One sobering lesson we must remember is that it is tougher to get rid of weeds when they are prevalent in the yard.
A. It takes expensive chemicals and extensive labor to get rid of the intruders.
B. When sin becomes habit, it is equally hard to eliminate it.
- Some people struggle for years to eradicate sins that have become integral parts of their lives.
C. It takes a lot of time and energy to “reform” ourselves and purify our thoughts.
- There may be friends, a lifestyle, and entertainment choices that must be eliminated.
- We often need much humility to admit we were wrong, that we messed our lives up, and that we have damaged ourselves spiritually in ways we may not yet recognize.
D. Always remember, it is easier to overcome temptation than to stop a bad habit.
- Temptation help
- 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – God makes a way of escape
- Hebrews 4:14-16 – Jesus can sympathize with us
- Temptations can often be a great test of our faith, resolve, and dedication but we’re stronger when we overcome the trial and temptation.
- Giving in and developing bad habits weakens us and takes time, energy, and strength to get back on the right track and deal with any emotional consequences of sin.
- We can develop a “taste” for sin: like an alcoholic gaining a taste that one who avoids it doesn’t have
- Some have to spend years to get back on the right track but sometime feel behind in their spiritual growth and emotionally damaged.
E. Be diligent, vigilant, and thorough in rooting out sin, and your life, like a beautifully manicured lawn, will be pleasant to behold, peaceful, and fulfilling.
- Proverbs 24:30-34 READ
- When it comes to our spiritual lives, are we sleeping instead of working?
- How does our “garden” look?
- Are we suffering spiritual poverty due to neglect or enjoying a bountiful harvest by working with God?
- Finally, we must always be diligent to search our minds, hearts, words, and actions to root every small weed of unrighteousness from our lives lest it take root, spread, and choke off the growth of what is good. Let us have lives that, like a well-manicured lawn, reflect attention to proper nourishment, consistent maintenance, and removal of that which defiles and destroys.