Lessons From a Grass Plant

By Andrew A. Prociuk

Watering

As I was driving to work the other day, I saw a church billboard that said, “Deep roots come from dry spells.” As a landscape horticulture graduate I was pondering that phrase and how that statement is not completely true. But just as the sign was giving a spiritual lesson, which it probably can, I would like to give one as well. Let’s use the analogy of a grass seed.

When grass seeds are sown, they need water. The water penetrates the seed coat and, essentially, busts the seed coat open. The first root, called the radicle, appears and starts to grow into the soil so that it can absorb water and nutrients. The basic rule of thumb for watering grass is deep and infrequent; however, in the case of establishing new grass the rule is shallow and frequent. What this does is allow the water to be absorbed into the top layer of the soil to be accessible to the newly established roots. If too much water is applied, the soil would absorb it to a depth inaccessible for the young roots. On the other hand, if the grass plant is always supplied the shallow water, it will not have a chance to grow to a proper depth in the soil and when dry spells come along, the roots have a greater chance of dying from the hot dry soil

As grass starts to grow, if properly watered, the roots find their way deeper into the soil. This is when the rule for the watering starts to change over to deep and infrequent. Of course, this must be a gradual process from the shallow and frequent watering schedule. When this happens, the water finds its way deeper into the soil to be accessible for the growing roots. When the dry spells come along, the deep healthy roots, as opposed to the shallow roots, are at a depth to which they can reach the moist soil. As this happens, the grass plant grows to be healthy. The roots grow deep and the leaf blade grows to reach the light of the sun.

So, you may be wondering what my point is. Well, look at it this way. There are many references in the Bible to plants and how they relate to our spiritual lives. In Mark 4:5-6 Jesus gives the parable of the sower and speaking of the seed he says, “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

As new Christians come into fellowship, the tendency seems to be to teach the Bible at a basic level, get them baptized, and hope they do well, however, if we use the analogy of the grass plant, new Christians, like grass plants, need to be supplied that shallow water for a time, even after their baptism, until their roots start to grow. The watering must gradually deepen so they can reach the water themselves when that dry spell does come along. And it most definitely will come.

So, deep roots, in a spiritual sense, rather than resulting from dry spells actually help believers survive through them. Deep spiritual roots come from a caring heart and a realization that the faith of new Christians is somewhat dependent on the body of believers. It is a gradual process that takes time. We must take care of each other as we would do to a garden. The watering, or teaching, of new disciples is still essential even after they are baptized. Their roots will take time to deepen and the only way to do that is if we water them properly no longer with elementary teachings (Hebrews 6:1). When a disciple’s faith is deeply rooted in the Word, they will eagerly seek God as their light (James 1:5).

Fertilization

Along with the watering, a healthy grass plant often needs fertilizer. The basic rule for fertilization is four pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet per year. Nitrogen is probably the most essential element in the health of grass. It is the element that keeps the grass green. There are a few problems that can go along with fertilization, however. A fast release fertilizer will give a quick green up, but the grass will soon fade. A slow release fertilizer will take a long time to green up. Therefore, the best way to fertilize is to integrate fast and slow release fertilizers.

Systematic theology is viewed with four pieces in mind and these pieces comprise a triangle with four levels. The bottom level is the most essential and is that of Holy Scripture. The next level is that of Tradition. The Tradition that is being spoken of is that of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, those are the early church fathers from the beginning of the church up to AD 325. And although not all fathers agreed on every issue, the consensus is what is viewed. The next level is that of reason. God allows us to be able to reason and therefore, it should be used. The final level, and the apex of the triangle, is that of experience. Experience is important to our walk with God; however, it cannot take priority over the other three pieces of the triangle.

Now, if we want to see how this relates spiritually, we can take a look at theology. It should be agreed upon that the Holy Scriptures take precedent over tradition, reason, and experience. As well, the tradition of the Ante-Nicene fathers should be taken in high regard. So, that leaves us with reason and experience. Now, if we take a look back at slow release and fast release fertilizers, we see that although both are effective in their own way, slow release fertilizers are more effective in the health of grass. As well, reason, according to the theological triangle, is more effective than experience. Experience and feelings are important in our walk with God but as Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Emotions are like the fast release fertilizer. They help for those quick green-ups when you really want your grass (spirituality) to look nice almost instantly, but it fades soon thereafter. Reason, wisdom and patience as well, are regarded more like the slow release fertilizers. They are what keep us spiritually sound and growing. It may take a little longer for the grass to green up, but when it does it stays green longer. Hosea 4:6b says, “…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” It does not say, “…my people are destroyed from lack of feelings.”

Just as grass needs both fast and slow release fertilizers, we as Christians need fast and slow release fertilizers in the form of experience and feelings along with reason, patience, wisdom, and knowledge. By having a proper balance, we will have that better root system that keeps us anchored along with the better leaves with which to display the glory of God.

Replication

Now, watering and fertilization is all well and good, but what now? Is that all there is to being a grass plant or a spiritual brother or sister? Well, not exactly. Something happens to the grass plant when it receives proper care. It grows! When grass is watered and fertilized appropriately, roots grow deeper and thicker and leaf blades grow thicker as well. The grass will start to spread out and send roots in every direction to repopulate all that it can. Seeds will start to grow and fall to the ground to start the cycle all over again.

Speaking of seeds, Jesus said in John 12:24-25, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” The only way for us to grow God’s kingdom is to die to ourselves everyday. By doing this we are like seeds that fall to the ground and die. If we do this, we will replicate and produce many more seeds so that the cycle will be ongoing.

Just as grass needs care, we too need to care for our spiritual life. And just as grass, we need others in our life to help take care of us. We are not spiritually self sufficient by any means. We must be watered so that we can be properly rooted in God’s word. We also need proper fertilization so that we can be spiritually healthy. And we need to take what we have been given and share it with others to continue the cycle. Although grass may seem simple, just as our spiritual lives at times, it can be complex. Although we will ultimately wither just like the grass, God does not. “All men are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of our God stands forever” Isaiah 40:6-8.