So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. Genesis 2:15 (Amplified)
REFERENCE
Genesis 2:8-17 & 3:18 (Amplified)
Since man fell in the Garden of Eden, the earth (soil) was put under a curse and it will always of itself yield thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). It follows therefore, that without any intervention or interference of man, the earth will always bring forth thorns. Vines in bible days were valuable plants; they were celebrated for both their luxuriant growth and for the immense clusters of grapes that they produced. If a man wants to have vines (or any other cash crops or fruitful trees), he must then, plant them. He cannot sit still, fold his hands and expect the earth to produce vines – no wonder, God’s instruction to Adam, ab initio was, “cultivate it and keep the garden.” To cultivate suggests the preparation and breaking up of soil for planting; it also means to grow, maintain and develop something. Lastly, it means to APPLY oneself to improving or developing oneself.
All I am saying is that, you must be intentional about living and about your life. Nothing just happens if nobody tries to make it happen – at least, nothing good or of great and lasting worth. The earlier you understand this truth, the better. A good business doesn’t just happen, a great ministry doesn’t happen by chance, good academic grades don’t just happen, a good marriage is not a function of luck, great kids are not raised through passive parenting, money doesn’t fall from trees and neither is knowledge an anointing.
If you want any of these things (or anything at all), you must be willing to make investments in yourself or towards getting them! You MUST commit to invest time in praying, studying, learning, asking questions, daily improvement, etc. I have come to realize in life that anything left to itself, untended and uncultivated, soon begins to suffer decay and depreciation; be it a car, a building, a skill, a machine and even a garden.
Do you want a beautiful life? Do you want fruitful vineyards? Do you want to excel in your studies or field of business? Do you want to be a great singer? Do you want your marriage to be heaven on earth? Do you want your finances to soar? Then you must break up your soil and ‘plant vineyards’ – you must be intentional about them. If not, everything around you will break down and instead of fruitful vines, your marriage, business, etc., will produce thorns – God forbid! So, be intentional, don’t wait for things to happen or watch things happen or wonder why things are/aren’t happening, decide to MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!
Decide today to make choices that will give you a choice-life, or else, life and other people will make your choices for you. Remember, if you want vines, you must ‘plant them.’
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL READING
Joshua 17:14-18, Proverbs 29:15 & Proverbs 24:30-34
PRAYER POINT
Pray for grace, courage, and wisdom to break up your soil, plant the things you want to reap, and cultivate it until it produces the right fruits.