Good Seed, Good Soil, Good Harvest
And the desire for other things enters in and chokes the word and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4.19b)
Mark 4:3-20; Ps. 119:15, 130; Jer. 15:16; Mt. 6:25; Lk. 21:34; Rom. 10:9; Heb. 4:12
What Is God Saying?
This same parable is repeated three times and each time its meaning is explained in great detail by our Lord to His disciples and a few others who were with them. A parable is an analogy. The word comes from ‘aside’ and ‘to throw,’ something thrown alongside as an illustration or a comparison, intended to bring out a lesson. Mark 4 (see parallel passages in Matthew and Luke) begins a series of striking parables.
We know how slight the chances are of good seed that is scattered on a pathway or on ground that is strewn with rocks. We have all had our dealings with weeds and thorns. We have seen the plans for a beautiful and productive garden threatened and sometimes defeated by vigorous weeds. This parable is as close as our front yard. We have also been thrilled when good seed is planted in good garden soil for a good harvest. Jesus explains in Mark 4:10-20 that it all has to do with how the seed of the Word is received. It speaks of peril and neglect and unfruitfulness, yet ends positively, ‘But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the Word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.’
How Does This Apply To Us?
Fruitful living results when we give God's Word a chance. The Word is always good seed. It will never return to God empty unless we are too busy with other things to let it take root in our minds, our hearts, and our conscious wills or unless we allow competitive interests to sap our time and energy. The seed will take root and bear fruit if we are not absorbed in seeking wealth and spending it. The Word will do its work if we care less about the trivia of entertainment, our security, our things and more about our love for God and for others who need us. Don't worry about the good seed. That's God's part. Just make sure it finds good soil—a listening and willing heart. That's our part.
Pray With Me
Dear Lord, I know that Your Word is meant to be so much more in my life than I allow it to be. It is meant to nourish my spirit and guide my steps, to increase in my life and be nourishment for others.
• Given room, it has the power to grow and fill the empty spaces with nourishment.
• Given freedom, it has the power to show the loving purpose of God, to show the path my feet should walk, and to show the joy of Your love on my face.
• Given first place, it shows Your incomparable love to me and through me to others.
Yet, even Your Word, so living and powerful can be choked and rendered unfruitful. The edict of an angry ruler cannot negate Your Word. The grinding of time cannot wear it down. The crush of circumstances cannot make it ineffective. Heaven and earth will pass away but Your Words will never pass away. What, then, is left that can cause Your Word to be unfruitful? Only one thing, the desire for other things.
Let this always be clear to me. When my heart hungers for any satisfaction that runs at cross-purposes to Your Word, help me to let the desire be eradicated. In its place let there be planted those thoughts and ambiti0ns which are in harmony with Your Word as it reveals Your will. When I allow anything else to choke Your Word, to block Your way in my life, to hinder the witness of Your Spirit to me and through me to others, help me root it out and give Your Word a chance to grow and to show.
To the praise of the glory of your grace. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Good fruit is closely allied to prayer. It is in prayer that we truly hear God's truth and truly accept it. We read the Word with our eyes and ponder it in our minds, but the good soil is prayer. It is there the seed takes root. It is grown in the ample, unhindered space of time alone with God. To neglect prayer is to give weeds a chance. God's good seed prospers in the good soil of prayer.
