The Companion Planting of the Lord

Why Am I Among Them?

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:14-26

"For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I

am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the

body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that

would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would

be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all

were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one

body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I

have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are

indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the

greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our

more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater

honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the

members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer

together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

Reflection

In a vegetable garden you may find numerous different kinds of vegetables growing. Since

vegetable gardens don’t generally just happen on their own, how does the gardener decide

what to place where in the garden. One of the methods that is widely used in home gardens

is called “Companion Planting.” In commercial farming of crops, you usually see vast

acreages of a single vegetable planted together. For example a whole field of sweet

potatoes or cabbages. This is to make it most efficient for the farmer to plant, care for, and

harvest his crops. But in the home situation where space is much more limited, different

veggies need to exist side-by-side.

Companion planting looks for ways for vegetables to grow together with each helping its

neighbor in some way. A basil plant may be planted by a tomato, the tomato partially

shading the basil from the worst of the heat of the summer while the basil’s flowers attract

bees which then also pollinate the tomato flowers. Corn, pole beans, and squash may be

planted together. The corn is tall, so the pole beans can climb it as they head towards more

sunshine. The squash spreads on the ground with large leaves that shade out the shorter

weeds that might otherwise grow under the corn and beans. The beans fix nitrogen from the

air and add it back into the soil, naturally providing fertilizer for both corn and squash.

In the same way, God places us in groups for mutual benefit. The first group God created

was Adam and Eve, to be helpmeets for each other. Then he gave families, then tribes and

nations. In the New Testament, we find local churches being established. In each of these

cases, there is benefit for all the members. One person may be strong and tall and able to

support others around them. Another person may be good at providing shelter for more

tender members. Someone else may be enriching the soil, while another is keeping the

weeds under control. And some members are just there to create beauty or a pleasant

aroma!

All the plants in the garden need the same 7 basic things: sunlight, water, air, soil

(nutrition), enough space to grow, time to get from seed to maturity, and a temperature

suitable to growing. As Christians, we all have comparable needs. But as the

knowledgeable gardener places their plants in such a way as to get all the needs met

together, God places us so we can help each other get what we need.

Prayer

Lord, help me to grow in the space you put me in. Help me not just do everything for my

own growth and fruitfulness, but also as a blessing for those you have placed next to me.

Help me to share the resources you generously provide, and help me appreciate what my

brothers and sisters are able to do.

Application

Reflect a while today on what strengths God has given you in his garden. How are you able

to help those around you. Also consider what your weaknesses might be. How are those

you worship with helping you to grow better.