Tending Your Garden Series

Then God sat down beside me there And said, "Son, that's for you."

"But saying things to strangers, Lord, is one thing I can't do.

Now Tom can talk to people, Lord, there's nothing he won't do.

I'd rather someone come to me and greet me on the pew."

As years just seemed to pass me by, I heard that voice no more.

Until one night I closed my eyes And woke on heaven's shore.

'Twas four of us together there to face eternity.

God said, "I need just three of you to do a job for me."

"O Lord, I cried, "I'll do the job, there's nothing I won't do."

But Jesus said, "I'm sorry, friend, in Heaven there's no pew."

God said “you reap what you sow.”

But the question to be asked this morning is this: are you sowing or are you just sitting?

What are you doing for Him and His kingdom?

What are you investing?

Where are you putting your time for Him? Talent? Treasure?

ILLUS: It’s often been said that in a normal church 20% of the people do 80% of the work. In this congregation it’s more like 60 to 70 % of the people doing that work. And I’m so grateful to be part of a church where you take this responsibility seriously.

But what if you’re part of that other 30 to 40%?

What if you’re not investing your time for God? How much time to do you spend serving God outside of just showing up on Sunday morning?

Or what about your talents? Do you use the talents you’ve got to do anything inside this building, or outside of it? I’m not talking about doing nice things that make you feel good? I’m talking about using your talent consciously serving God.

Or what about your treasure? When the plate is passed do you just put in a token $5 or $10? Do you simply put in your pocket change? Do you give God what you have left over?

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 tells us “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food (we’re sharecropping with Him) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”

If you and I want to have a good harvest from God we’ve got to seriously think about whether we’re sowing our seed, or just sitting on seat.

I want to close with this thought:

Jesus promised us he was going on ahead to prepare a place for us.

He told the thief on the cross He’d meet him in Paradise.

The word “paradise” is a Persian word meaning a walled garden used by a king.

Isn’t that intriguing? Jesus has gone on to prepare a garden for us. A place in paradise. Thus, we not only have a garden here on earth... we have one waiting for us in heaven.