Many states in the south are well acquainted with the Japanese plant Kudzu. It was introduced to the United States in 1876 and kudzu’s popularity grew from the 1930s to the 1950s as a soil erosion control. It worked to control erosion, but it would not go away. Kudzu spreads quickly and the growth overtakes everything in its path. This vine grows about one foot per day and as long as 100 feet. Kudzu outcompetes all the native plants.

The Southerners in the early to mid-1900s were likely surprised at the growth of kudzu. They learned the simple principle, “Whatever you plant, it grows.” So what are you planting? No, I am not concerned with your latest garden, but our actions are like planting a seed. Whatever you plant, it grows. I think this is one of the reasons Paul instructs the Ephesian church to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph 4:31).

It is not as if we “just got mad” or “that just slipped out,” but we are planting something. Just like kudzu, our hurtful actions are often out of our desire to control a situation, not realizing we are growing something that will eventually control us.

The good news is the following verse gives us the right seed to grow the right things, as Paul wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:32).