Editorial September 12, 1994 Issue

Watching what's being sown

Russ Gerber

We have a wide range of counsel and spiritual instruction today that grew out of Biblical illustrations relating to farming practices. Almost every aspect of agricultural work assumes a figurative role in teaching vital lessons—cultivation, sowing, watching, and of course, reaping what is sown. This isn't surprising, considering that agriculture was the primary basis for the economy in Palestine.

When it comes to sowing, for instance, the book of Leviticus offers this instruction: "Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed" (19:19). And elsewhere in the Old Testament is this: "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled" (Deut. 22:9). These words remind us of the need for purity and watchfulness.

Anyone who has cared for a garden knows that it takes watchfulness and consistent effort to keep the land weed-free. And we've seen the consequences of not doing so! In a similar manner, we can care about the character of our thought, watch carefully and consistently that it's only of the highest quality, that it's as purely spiritual as possible, and not allow an opposite quality to be sown and take root. In this way we guard against anything detrimental to health, to happiness, or to our own spiritual advancement. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance," Paul told the Galatians (5:22, 23).

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

In next week's Sentinel—