Overwatering: Too Much of a Good Thing

You are the light of the world. — Jesus in Matthew 5:14

It may seem odd or even inconceivable, but a plant can actually have too much water. A plant can have too much of a good and life-giving thing! When they’re overwatered, plants yellow and then die.

Can we as followers of Christ be overwatered? Can we have too much of a good Christian thing and somehow become less useful to God? Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. once observed, “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.” Whether or not you totally agree, this statement offers a good word of warning.

But just what are some good things that we may get too much of to the detriment of our usefulness on this earth? Christian fellowship is a vital good for our faith walk, but “too much Christian fellowship” can mean isolation from people who don’t yet know about God’s love for them.

Christian literature offers wonderful truths in memorable and even life-changing ways. But too much of this good may result in less time spent reading God’s Word and learning His truth for ourselves.

All believers need water, but oversaturation can indeed mean a stunt of growth in our faith.

Lord God, I don’t want to be so heavenly minded that I’m no earthly good to You or to the people around me. Guide my use of time so that my life is in balance and so that You can use me as light in this dark world.

Excerpted with permission from Devotions from the Garden, copyright Thomas Nelson.

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Your Turn

Where might you be overwatered? How can you step out in faith, meet new people who don’t yet know Jesus, and reach out with the Good News? Join the conversation on our blog! We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily