This week at Lifechurch.tv Craig Groeschel spoke on Drifting from God. Part of his message was on a parable out of Matthew. This passage ALWAYS speaks to me. So I thought I would dive in a little deeper, I hope it speaks to you as well!
Jesus tells a parable…
Matthew 13:3-8, 3 “A farmer went out to sow his seed.4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
Matthew 19-2219 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
There are two especially important symbols in this parable—the seed and the soil.
The seed is God's Word.
The soil represents how we receive and respond to God's Word and His calling on our lives.
The seed that fell on the hard path (13:19) represents those who hear God's Words and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts.
Pathways are worn hard and smooth by constantly being walked on.
Many people are like a path. The world has walked upon us so much, that we are worn smooth.
The fertile soil in which God's word could take root is packed down so tight that it is as hard as concrete.
Are you a follower of Christ?
Have you let God take root in your heart?
Is your life like a hard path…
The rocky soil (13:20-21) represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word.
People can have a lot of rocks in their lives. On the surface, they seem fine; but, hidden beneath the surface where no one sees are hard rocks that keep God's word from making good roots.
Is your heart full of rocks that keep the roots of God's words from spreading deep into your life?
Dig up the rocks and throw them away. The thorny ground (13:22) represents those who hear and accept Gods word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced.
There are so many things to care about and worry about in our world… Kids, Houses, Cars, Clothes, Food, work, school, groceries, little league, soccer, girl scouts, boy scouts, yard work, house work, doctors, medicine, vitamins, gasoline prices, noisy neighbors, politicians, taxes, elections, holidays, birthdays, PTA’s, bake sales, weddings, funerals, baby showers, parties, friends, enemies, family, community, shopping, exercise, newspapers and magazines, the dishes, the trash, having enough cash, and don’t forget the kitchen sink (it’s leaking)…
It’s no wonder that so many people in our time are turning away from the word of God. There’s no time for it!
Our lives are so full of the cares of this world; Gods words are choked out like a flower in a field full of weeds.
How do you get rid of weeds? Pull them up! Spray them with roundup and kill them!
But you’ve got to know the difference between a weed and a useful plant…
What’s really important in your life? What are your priorities? What has God called you to do? There are a lot of weeds that are pretty!
Do the things in your life bear fruit that is consistent with what is important in your life? What type of fruit are you producing?
The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message, live it and produce a huge harvest—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.”
This is the goal—good, fertile soil where God's Word takes root and grows into a healthy and fruitful plant.
What does a good, fertile life look like?
Soft and easy to work with—God can shape you and make of your life what He wants. (Contrast with the concrete soil)
Fertilized—God’s word and prayer
Watered—Christian fellowship, friendship, and support
What kind of soil is in your life today?
Are you worn hard like a well-traveled pathway?
Is your life full of rocks that need to be dug up and discarded? Or is your life like a field full of weeds that threaten to choke away the beautiful spirituality God wishes to establish in you?
What type of soil are you?
What type of soil do you WANT to be and what are you going to do about it?
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