Biblical Laws of Partnership with Godنموونە

William Douglas and Rubens Teixeira: The 25 Biblical Laws of Partnership with God Devotional Day 6

“The Law of the Garden”

Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

Thrive in the soil in which you were planted. As poet Mario Quintana wrote, “The secret is not to take care of the butterflies, but to take care of the garden so the butterflies come to you.” Make your garden more beautiful, whatever it may be. The butterflies will come—sometimes in order to improve your salary or position and other times to invite you to be a gardener in another place.

In every situation, your remarkable and one-of- a-kind partner—God—will accompany you. According to the Law of Training (Devotional Day 4), if God doesn’t change the circumstances, he may want to either change you or give you the privilege of serving him. In this case, you need to do a good job right where you are, trusting God; at the right moment he will provide the change. After all, God “changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan. 2:21 NKJV).

Looking for better places to work or new opportunities for growth is not forbidden, of course. But those who change jobs frequently and jump from pasture to pasture, believing that the grass is always greener on the other side, will find that this attitude may get in the way of motivation, focus, and productivity. Instead, reflect on the possibility that God may have placed you where you are to accomplish some mission, to do your best for others, and to defend eternal principles and values.

The Law of the Garden should not be confused with complacency. It has a spiritual dimension that produces acceptance and service. When the people of Israel went into exile, the prophet Jeremiah told them to work for the good of the place to which they were going (Jer. 29:7). Note that they were going as slaves! It is similar to the word the apostle Paul had to Christians slaves—do not be overly troubled by your status, but seize freedom if the opportunity arises (1 Cor. 7:21).

Understanding that God is in control involves accepting that sometimes we face a hard situation in life, either as a result of what we have sown or due to a divine decision. Hence, even if only out of submission to God, we need to be fully there. If we want to change, the first step is to understand that in order to be transplanted, a plant must first be strong. The harder you work in the garden in which you have been placed, the easier it will be for you to grow and, in the future, the better opportunity you will have of being transferred to and thriving in a more fertile land.

It is common for some people to say that if they only had a good opportunity, they would dedicate themselves to their tasks and do an excellent job. But while they wait for some twist of fate, they don’t put even a little effort into their daily tasks, and they waste a real opportunity to prove their talent. Meanwhile, people committed to working hard wherever they are will soon distinguish themselves. It is no coincidence that the best opportunities appear to this second group.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.

—Vivian Greene