“And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19 ESV).
Jesus told a parable about a sower who sowed seed that fell on four types of soil. Some seed fell on a path, some in rocky soil, some fell in soil overgrown with thorns and some fell on good soil. Jesus later explained the parable to His disciples. He said the seed represented God’s Word and the soil represented the spiritual receptivity of the human heart.
Certainly, one can observe all four heart conditions and their spiritual receptivity to the Word in our world today. But the third condition, the thorny soil condition, seems the most prolific in our nation. Americans are usually open to hearing God’s Word. Yet, the fruitfulness of their lives is often stunted. Why? Jesus explained it. They are troubled by the “cares of the world” or they are ensnared by “the deceitfulness of riches.” The “desire for other things,” meaning worldly, rather than spiritual things, has choked the fruitfulness of the Word in them. As a result, they never really grow to spiritual maturity and fruitfulness.
What is your heart’s receptivity to the Word? Have you allowed the thorny vines of worry to choke your spiritual growth? Have you become entangled and seduced by the pursuit of money and the desire for worldly possessions, so that your enthusiasm for God’s Word has been nearly choked out?
Or is your heart good soil? Are you receptive to God’s Word? Does the Word take root in you and bear good fruit?
PRAYER: Dear Father, none of us have pure hearts, but You have promised to give us a new heart. Help us to disentangle ourselves from the love of money and worldly things, so that Your Word can take deep root and be fruitful in us. We want hearts that love You and Your Word above all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.