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“The Gardener”
The Gardener
Wade Webster
James Allen declared, “Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bear bad fruit – and man is his own gardener.”[i]
Since the creation, one of the fundamental laws of nature has been that everything produces after its kind (Gen. 1:11). It was to this law that Jesus, the Creator, referred in the Sermon on the Mount. He declared, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Mt. 7:17-19). Later, He would again refer to this law and declare: “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Mt. 12:35).
The Apostle Paul would also appeal to the seed principle in the letter that he penned to the saints at Galatia. He wrote, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Gal. 6:7-8).
Realizing that thoughts, like trees, produce after their kind, we must carefully guard our thoughts. We must “keep” our hearts “with all diligence” (Prov. 4:23), realizing that as we think in our hearts, we will be (Prov. 23:7; cf. Mt. 12:34; 15:19).
Paul’s words to the saints at Philippi seem especially appropriate in this study. He wrote, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
As the gardener of our own hearts, each of us must give great care to what is sown in them. If somehow bad seed is sown, we must weed it out as quickly as possible.
[i] Covey, Stephen R. Everyday Greatness.
