Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
I know when we hear this story we are obviously supposed to strive to be the fruitful seed that falls onto good soil. Sadly, I think those good seeds are few and far between, and I certainly don't pretend to be one. Whenever I've thought about it though I always assumed that I was the seed that fell on the rocky soil, but I heard a sermon this past Sunday that has opened up my eyes.
The point of the sermon was focused on something other than this parable, but we read the whole passage and God suddenly opened up my heart when we got to verse 18. I am not the seed that falls on the rocky soil, I'm being choked by the thorns. Every time I worry about being able to buy a house, my job, my future I am not focusing on, or even thinking about, God or His plan for me. When I long for the material things of this world, as if wishing made it so, my heart is so concentrated on everything but God. Not only is this a dangerous threat to my spiritual walk with the Lord, but it is a depressing move on my part. My future looks bleak from my point of view, everything seems so expensive and out of reach, and the timing of everything I want to accomplish in my life seems impossible.
When I dwell on these discouraging ideas I feel hopeless and I become useless. My sour mood then begins to pollute all areas of my life: I argue with my husband, I don't give my best at work, I think selfishly, and don't really do anything to be proud of. I see now that my worries and worldly desires, while seeming natural and benign to an outsider, are consuming my heart, and choking my potential to be fruitful. Good thing God answers prayers!
Friends, pray for me! God help me!
