COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

ANNUALS OR PERENNIALS?

I just came in from my morning walk, and need to share an observation.

We are in a planned neighborhood where basic landscaping is part of the package. Some residents add to the basics, either annuals or perennials, or both.

I pray as I walk ~ mostly listening. Today, Father and I were drawing comparisons between the planting of people and the planting of the Lord.

Paul wrote, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. (Good reminder!) Then he identified himself as a wise master builder who, by the grace of God, laid the foundation ~ Jesus Christ ~ in the lives of people who comprise the church that Jesus is building.

As another who, by the grace of God, is a master builder, I just can’t justify investing time in annuals. Our home is surrounded with perennials. They are basic, the same yesterday, today, and forever (unless this drought doesn’t let up soon). They are foundational.

On the other hand, some neighbors labor long and hard planting and tending to annuals. It seems like they no more than put them in, and it’s time to rip them out and replace them. If they don’t, they will just die. They won’t come back ~ ever.

I cannot get excited about building the church around annuals ~ programs and events.

I get excited about focusing upon lifestyle, the 24/7 culture-changing, mountain-moving church that manifests and proclaims the kingdom of God on earth.

Through wisdom a house is built,

And by understanding it is established;

By knowledge the rooms are filled

With all precious and pleasant riches. - Proverbs 24:3-4

Apostles are to be wise master builders. Prophets bring understanding that establishes God’s house. Then the rooms of the house are filled with all precious and pleasant riches through the anointed ministry of teachers.

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers. - I Corinthians 12:28

None of these is to be in the business of planting annuals. We are building for permanence! As we build together under the headship of Jesus Christ, we are building what He is building ~ and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.