THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER
By: C. Mason Davis
Today’s Scripture
Proverbs 5:15-17 states, “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers with thee.”
What that scripture telling us is: But it is still water. So, enjoy what you have. The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. It is just grass.
Are things in your life not working for you exactly as you want or as you think things should be? Are you moving around a lot trying to find that direction and that place where things should be as you’d hoped for? Is life making you dizzy because you have no direction? Do you feel so confused because you can’t tell what is up or down, left or right, right or wrong anymore? Do you suffer from the “Grass is greener on the other side of the fence” syndrome? This syndrome of “The grass is always greener on the other side” is a proverb about envy and perception. This phrase is used to describe people who are never content with what they have and constantly wonder if others have it better. We are so quick to see the negative in our own lot, so everything else looks better elsewhere. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. In Psalm 23, the reference to green pastures is a metaphor for God’s care for His people. It’s not a reference to go find greener pastures elsewhere, but that if you keep faith in Him, He will provide for you, so you don’t have to keep looking elsewhere for those greener pastures. Philippians 4:19 states, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Some say grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. But most can say in response is, maybe so, but the grass isn’t the least bit green. And so, what should they do? Ignore the hills in the distance because the grass is always greener on the other side? Or should they hop the fence and wander over the hill and stand on that grass to know for sure? They have done this many times over. And always the grass is indeed less green than previously thought. Sometimes, though, there are a few good strands. but the grass isn’t green, and they wonder if they’re settling. And to think, as far as they know, this is the only life they’ve got, and would like to stand on green grass at least once, so they carry on. Over the next fence. Still. The grass isn’t green. Maybe this whole time they’ve been hopping fences but should have stayed put and nurtured the grass in their own field. If they had, maybe by now it would be green.
Some of them say the shade of grass you get has nothing to do with what field you stand in. That it is decided by something much bigger and grander and more mysterious than us. And if you do the things it likes, you will get greener, and if you don’t, you get browner. But some of them also say that this entity sometimes likes to test us and will occasionally give us brown anyways to see how we react.
Some people say the point is to stop wanting the green. And maybe there’s something to that. Ecclesiastes 6:9 states, “Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.” But most move on, choosing a direction carefully this time. They set their sights on the greenest and decide to let nothing stand in their way, thinking this is the field. They think they’ve figured it out this time. But alas, wrong again. They’re tired of being wrong, but don’t want to be the sort of person who gives up, so with a sigh they hop another fence.
The first chapter of the Book of Ruth is a great example of hopping fences for greener pastures. Ruth’s own story is of strength even in the midst of adversity. But the story is also about Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, facing strong difficulties, persecutions, and possibly varying levels of regret, but both of them grew in their faith and found God’s hope, restoration, and even redemption in the end. When we pick up the story, we realize an important lesson from Naomi and Elimilech, that sometimes we are going to have to endure while our own house is in a mess or a state of disorder.
Israel was in the midst of a famine. In those days a famine was a very serious and frightening thing. It could mean a food shortage, and there would be no other place to gather food leading to starvation. Whereas now we have ways of predicting weather and crop cycles, in Naomi’s day there was no way to tell how long a famine would last. It could be simply an off year for the harvest, or it could last seven years like in the story of Joseph. The rules in those days said that the Israelite people were not to intermingle with the Moabites, yet Elimelech did this anyway, moving his whole family to Moab where things seemed better instead of staying where he was and trusting God.
Likewise, in the story of the prodigal son, I imagine the young man was bored at home, wanted something new and exciting or was seeking a lot more pleasure out of life than working on his father’s farm. He thought life would be much more fun if he could just get away and move to a nice, exciting city. Sometimes, though we have to be prepared to deal with a little bit of mess in our own house. We often face two choices—stay or leave. It’s a recurrent choice in life. Now, suppose you come home, and you realize that your house is a complete disaster, a total mess. What do you do? The obvious answer is that you clean it. You can’t just close the door and walk away—you stay, and you put the house back in order. Elimilech and Naomi didn’t want to endure the struggle at home with their family and friends, staying and trusting God; they wanted to toddle off to something they thought was nicer and better. The prodigal son didn’t want to stay and make his father’s farm the best he could—he walked away from his home and family, thumbing his nose at them.
The problem with this is we have to discern whether we are being led by God’s call or by our own temptations. For Naomi and Elimelech it was clearly temptation. They did not trust God to provide and bear them through the famine. Moab wasn’t struggling with a famine, so the family uprooted and walked away from home and from obedience to God. Chapter 10 of Luke tells about the prodigal son, who likewise, was tempted away by the excitement of a far-off place where he could get all he wanted with his riches. And with a sizable inheritance, he was most likely very popular wherever he landed.
But walking away has consequences. For Elimelech it was death, and Naomi suffered the loss of practically her whole family. I can’t imagine the suffering and desolation she felt at having her husband die, then her two sons dying also. The prodigal son also had to pay the consequences. He squandered everything he had and was left broke, desolate, and hungry enough to eat the slop fed to pigs. And yet we read elsewhere that the disciples heard God’s call and left their homes, jobs, and everything to follow him. Abraham heard God call and left his home to travel to the promised land, so what is the difference?
The difference is the motivation—why are we doing what we are doing. For Naomi, Elimelech, and the prodigal son, they wandered off for selfish reasons whether it be their lack of trust, desire for a world of sinful opportunities, or even because they just thought they knew better—their motives were wrong and selfish, and they paid for it. Abraham and the disciples devoted themselves to following God. They left everything to work for the kingdom, to sacrifice for Jesus’s mission of love, grace, and building a loving, welcoming church that saved the soul and body from struggle.
Our society today is rife with this same kind of restless selfishness. It comes in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicities, and political persuasions. For every action we take, for every thought that leaps out of our mouth, for every comment we speak, post on social media, or debate in person, what is the motivation? Are we trying to point people to God? Or like Elimelech, Naomi, and the prodigal son, are we looking to be right, to prove our point, or to live however we want to regardless of whether it’s what God would have us do? Sometimes God calls us to be quiet, to clean and get our own house in order, to wait and endure if there’s a famine and struggle around us, and to work where we are because it’s the job God has called us to do. Naomi and Elimelech should have stayed in Bethlehem. The prodigal son should have stayed at home and tended the farm. If we always live our lives in the “should haves,” we will forever be struggling against God.
But the good news is that no matter how far we walk away, wander away, or even stubbornly refuse to be obedient, God will always welcome us home. A friend tells me how her mother used to counsel that no matter how many steps you take away from God, it’s always just one step back. The prodigal son was welcomed not as a punished servant, but as the beloved son. For Naomi, the road was a lot longer, but she also finds redemption and healing in the end.
Unfortunately, in life, the grass is not always greener on the other side. But we are often difficult and stubborn and even jealous people at times. But what I know is this: no matter how selfish, stubborn, or difficult we may have been, “there’s a wideness in God’s mercy. There is grace for everyone, even the sinner. There is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.” Though the grass may not always be greener where you go with selfishness and disobedience, I can promise you something on the opposite side. The grass is always green, and the soil for God’s love and grace will always be fertile where God leads you. God doesn’t promise to remove the obstacles from your life, but He will make a way for you to get through them.
But what are some of the reasons as to why the grass just may be greener on the other side of the fence:
If the grass looks greener on the other side, it is probably astroturf.
Remember, if the grass across the fence is greener, it may be due to a septic tank issue or the cows in that pasture fertilize the grass naturally.
If the grass is greener on the other side, it`s probably getting better care. Success is a matter of sticking to a set of common-sense principles anyone can master.
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can bet the water bill is higher.
Even if you think the grass is greener on the other side, you’re going to have to mow that side too.
The fact is the grass isn't always greener on the other side. The reality is that the grass is rarely greener on the other side, but it is always greener where you choose to your side.
Whoever always looks for greener grass on the other side will never be able to appreciate the green grass that was under their feet the entire time.
The wisdom of this saying is that we are wise not to focus on finding greener pastures somewhere else, but instead to nurture and grow the vitality of what we already have.
The opposite of the belief that "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" would be "Appreciate what you have." Believing that “The grass is always greener on the other side” could also be a cautionary tale, to cherish what you have.
Clearly some people will do just about anything to get to what they think are greener pastures, but the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. If we want to graze in greener pastures, then we have to follow our Good Shepherd. Jesus will lead us. But we have to follow him. In order to understand what it means to follow the Good Shepherd, let’s look at the characteristics of sheep. That's who the Bible says we are. We are sheep. And sheep need a flock. Sheep need a fold…that's a place of security. The third thing we need to understand about sheep, in order to understand ourselves, is that sheep are easily influenced.
We are easily influenced. Maybe not all the time. We tend to think we make our way; we make our own decisions, no one could unduly influence us. But the Bible says we are like sheep, so easily influenced. Matthew 10:16 Jesus says, "Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." This means to be careful not to be taken advantage of, but also not to manipulate others. In a flock, when a few sheep head off in the wrong direction, what happens? The other sheep look over and think, hey, they're on to something. I need to go check it out. We do the same thing. If you don't believe me, look at marketing and advertising. Look at the crowd mentality. Look at peer pressure and how we constantly put that pressure on ourselves wanting to fit in. God knows us. We are like sheep. We are easily influenced. We a lot of the time go along with the crowd.
That's why we need a shepherd. We're sheep. We're vulnerable. We're easily influenced. But Jesus can meet the needs in our lives. Just how does the Good Shepherd do that? John 10:2-3 says: “But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” That's the way it is for you and me. There are a lot of voices in the world. But the voice of Jesus Christ is clear. It's distinct from any other voice. If we want greener pastures, then we have to listen to his voice.
Jesus leads us. Jesus gives clear direction for our lives. Have you noticed how tiring it is when you don't know where you're going next? Confusion is exhausting. That's why playing defense in football is so tiring. They don't know where the offense is going, so they have to work harder. But Jesus clears up the confusion with his direction. He says, "I lead my sheep." John 4:10 says, " And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." How do you notice Jesus leads his sheep? He doesn't drive them. He doesn't walk beside them. Jesus leads out ahead of us. To lead the sheep, the shepherd has to go first. That's a good deal for the sheep. If there's danger out ahead of them, the shepherd will deal with it first.
As you think about the upcoming week, you've got things happening you know about. You've got things you think you know about, but you don't. You've got things you don't know, and you know you don't. And you've got things you wish you know more about, but you don't. Your week will be a mixed bag of knowns and unknowns. Whatever situations you face in the coming week, Jesus has already been there. He's already faced them. Jesus has already prepared the way for you. The shepherd has gone ahead of you. And when you know that you can face anything with love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. That is always a good thing.
John 10:5 says, “A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” The sheep don't look and see a wolf in sheep's clothing and say, "You know, he went to all the trouble of dressing up in sheep's clothing, I think I'll listen to what he has to say." Sheep don't do that. If another comes in and tries to lead them astray, they run. That's a great lesson for us because there are false teachers who say real interesting things. False teaching is everywhere. Know your Savior and your Bible well enough to recognize false teaching. Sheep are smart enough to run away from false teachers. Even if it sounds interesting. Don't misunderstand. It's a good thing to expose myself to different ideas. It helps reinforce Biblical truth to hear different points of view as long as you are keeping your heart and mind on the truth of God’s Word.
To understand how a shepherd leads, all we have to do is look at a couple of his important tools. The first is a sling. A sling would be used to defend the sheep against a predator. But it would also be used to lob a stone out ahead of a wandering sheep. The rock would thud a warning. There's danger here. God sends us the warnings too, in so many other ways. A shepherd would also use a staff. It was used to prod and nudge the sheep this way or that. Never to hurt them or punish them. This is also God’s way of keeping us on the right path…His path.
John 10:9 says, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Jesus is the door. Jesus saves. Jesus saves us from our sins. He saves us from our hurts. Jesus leads us to greener pastures in life. It's such an incredibly simple offer and yet people miss it. Jesus is the way to salvation. It doesn't matter where you are physically, when you are in Christ, Jesus is with you, and by that simple truth, the grass is greenest. Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd, you will be spiritually, emotionally, and eternally in greener pastures. Wherever you are…whatever is happening in your life, when you are in Christ, that is going to be your greenest grass. In Christ, you are already there. The best way to say it is, “the grass is always greenest where Jesus is.” And to have faith in this, I pray for all of us. Amen!
