No Weeds Here

Looking again at the "Parable of the Soils", next, Jesus explains yet another aspects that reveals the human condition when it comes to the Word of God being sown. "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Mark 4:18-19) Have you ever been in a situation where your mind is focused on a particular thing when someone says something to you, you hear what they are saying, but when they are finished speaking you barely remember what they said? You heard them, but your mind was consumed with something else so you really did not give them your attention and listen to what they had to say. In the same way, for some, when God's Word is sown, they are so consumed with the cares of the world, the love of money and the possession of material things, the Word of God is choked, blocked, denied of its life giving breath. 

The Word of God shows us the high premium the Lord places on ones soul and how the the world deceives many into believing that wealth and material possessions bring true happiness. Proverbs tells us, "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death." (Proverbs 11:4) Jesus tells us,  "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26) The Apostle John shows us that the love of things other than God is not a new thing. Quite the contrary, it began in the Garden of Eden. John tells us, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17) Look at the account that took place in the Garden, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, (lust of the flesh) that it was pleasant to the eyes, (the lust of the eyes) and a tree desirable to make one wise, (the pride of life) she took of its fruit and ate." (Genesis 3:6)   

Jesus also tells us another parable concerning a rich fool, "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21) Jesus also tells us, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

Now before you swear to a life of poverty, having wealth and material things are not contrary to God's Word. For instance, "Both riches and honor come from You (God)..." (1 Chronicles 29:12); "...Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." (Psalm 35:27); "As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:19); "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38) As the parable tells us, it is when "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things" are placed above our love, devotion and service of God, that the problem arises. 

Notice what the Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Apostle Paul concerning this matter, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10) Notice, that it is not money itself, but the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil. Also take note that the love of money causes believers to be led away from the truth producing much grief and pain. The sad thing is, far to many believers in the USA do not realize or maybe they know, but will not admit how the thorns of the world have choked off God's Word from their life. They go to a church service every Sunday, have a Christian vernacular so to speak and even say how God is first in their life, yet not realizing how much hold the world has on them. Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)  

If we would take some time and be honest with ourselves, we may find that there are areas in our life that the thorns of the world have taken hold. If this is so, do not try to justify yourself with reasons and do not condemn yourself because it is true, just "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6) Know this very important fact, God cares for you, but the world hates you (John 15:18-19) All that is needed is to become a hearer and a doer of God's Word. (James 1:22) Finally, after the Apostle Paul warned Timothy of the love of money and its consequences, he encourages Timothy in which I also want to encourage you, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (1 Timothy 6:11-12) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...