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“Lessons from a Lawnmower”
Lessons from a Lawnmower
Wade Webster
Likely, with all the recent rain, we are having to cut our grass every week. Have you ever thought of some lessons that your lawnmower can teach you?
First, tall grass is harder to cut. Perhaps, you have had to take a step and stop when cutting grass to keep the lawnmower from going dead. Maybe, you have had to raise the mowing deck or to cut much narrower rows to get your grass cut. I have had to pushed down on the handle on the push mower so that I could push it forward and slowly lower it on to the grass. I have had to go over the same areas more than once to gradually get my yard back into shape. Take my word for it, tall grass is harder to cut. The same holds true for things that we let go in our lives. For example, if we put off dealing with problems with our spouse, bitterness develop (Col. 3:19). If we put off disciplining our children, bad things may put down deep roots into their hearts (Prov. 19:18; cf. 5:22; Rom. 6:17-18). If we put off dealing with problems with our brother or sister it may hinder our worship (Mat. 5:23-24). The Bible warns us not to let the sun go down on our wrath (Eph. 4:26) or to wait for a convenient season (Acts 24:25).
Second, a dull blade won’t cut very well. Some folks use a lawnmower year without sharpening the blade. Over time normal use takes the edge off the blade. Gravels, sticks, stumps and other objects left in the yard hasten the process. Dull blades don’t cut very well. The same thing can happen in our spiritual lives. Living in the world can dull our edge. Temptations and trails can and do hasten the process. We must sharpen our spiritual lives by spending time in God’s word (2 Tim. 2:15; Acts 17:11). Spending time with good friends and brethren can also help us to stay sharp. Solomon wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17; cf. Heb.10:24-25; 1 Cor. 16:18).
Third, a flooded lawnmower is impossible to crank. Have you ever flooded a lawnmower? If you have, then you know how frustrating it is. You pull and pull on the cord , but nothing happens. A flooded lawnmower is impossible to crank. The same is true in our spiritual lives. The cares of life and the things of the world can choke us out or drown us (Mat. 13:22; 1 Tim. 6:9). We must cast our cares on Christ (1 Pet. 5:7). We need to lay aside that which is weighing us down (Heb. 12:1). We must redeem or buy back as much time as we can (Eph. 5:16).
Fourth, trash is easier to pick up before you run over it. Pieces of paper and other trash sometimes blows into our yards. If you have ever run over it, then you know what a mess it can make. It is much easier to pick up before it is cut into a thousand pieces and spread all around. The same is true in our spiritual lives. How we handle things matters. For example, the idle talk that we hear about others needs to be handled properly and not spread around (Lev. 19:16; Mat. 12:36). The tongue can kindle a great fire and cause a lot of destruction if it isn’t handled properly (Jam. 3:5).
No doubt, there are many more lessons that our lawnmowers can teach us, but if we will learn these four things, we will be off to a great start. Who knew that our lawnmowers had so much to teach us?
