Bloom Where You’re Planted

James Oppenheim said, “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet,”(1) and this is what the Lord wants every believer to understand. We’re supposed to find fulfillment and contentment right where God’s placed us, and to bloom where we’re planted.

An individual named Craig Carlisle shared the story of how he left his home in rural Ohio in order to move to New York City to pursue a career as an artist. While there, he began longing for home; however, even though he missed his childhood home, he came to realize how important it was to find contentment right where he was currently planted. Carlisle stated,

My part time job in New York City, to help make ends meet, was being a helper to a rooftop gardener . . . The gardening job became a metaphor in my life and my studio. It was a healing experience to rip apart the earth and in its place unite a new innocent flower for others to behold . . .

I miss my friends back home in Columbus and the carefree life that I once lived there. However far I am from the mystery that separates me from the place I know as home, I will always remember the banner that hung in my family’s home growing up as a child. It read, “Bloom Where You Are Planted.”(2)

Life can sometimes be tough, and we can feel as though we’re the dirt that the rooftop gardener is ripping apart; however, in that soil that’s been crumbled and torn into tiny pieces is where a new flower is planted to grow and blossom. Life may not be ideal where we are, but it’s in that broken and aerated soil that God wishes to grow a beautiful flower - us - and this is what we’re going to discuss in tonight’s message: blooming where we’re planted, and trusting the hands of the Master Gardener.

Continue Where God Has Placed You (v. 17)

But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches (1 Corinthians 7:17).

The New Living Translation reads, “You must accept whatever situation the Lord has put you in, and continue on as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches” (1 Cor 7:17). Do we readily accept the situation that God’s put us in, or where He’s allowed us to be? Do we believe that where we are is where the Lord really wants us to be?

In America, we tend to subscribe to the belief that we’re not in God’s will unless we’re “prospering,” or receiving material and monetary blessings. Look around at the rest of the world. If we apply this belief to Christians living in Third World countries, then we would have to conclude that they’re not in God’s will, or that they’re not in a right relationship with the Lord. This, of course, is an unscriptural conclusion.

Here in America, consumerism has led many people to believe that this or that product is what’s needed to make us happy, and this kind of thinking has carried over into every other area of life. It can cause us to think that if we only had this type of life, or that type of occupation, then we could be truly happy. We’re often looking for something better in life, when really the Lord could have us where we are for a reason.

Where we are right now could be God’s will, even if it seems unpleasant or contrary to our own standards. “In today’s society we hear a message that says, ‘If only our situation were different, we would be happier and more fulfilled’.”(3)

And where does all this lead? . . . It leads to a general dissatisfaction with life, as well as further unhappiness. And perhaps worst of all, it keeps [us] from being the man or woman of God that [we] were created to be because it leads [us] to believe that [we] are not in a position to serve God yet.

If only [we] could change this or that, then [we] could really serve God. But not now. Not in [our] current situation. This is the lie that Paul will address in our text . . . God wants [us] to bloom where [we] have been planted. He can use [us] right now, in the situation in which [we] find [ourselves].(4)

Secondary Situations Don’t Bring Contentment (vv. 18-19a)

Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing (1 Corinthians 7:18-19a).

In Paul’s time circumcision was a big deal, for it was a special mark designating a Jew as one of God’s chosen people. It was also a mark of blessing. We live in a totally different society, and I know you’ll readily agree that peace and contentment in life is not found in circumcision! To make this applicable today, peace is not found in what we have or don’t have, or in our earthly possessions or positions.