Parables Of The Kingdom – The First - The Sower Or Rather The Soil – Part 4 Of 5 Series

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM – THE FIRST - THE SOWER OR RATHER THE SOIL – Part 4 of 5

In the last message we did the seed that fell on the rocky soil, and we also did some of the seed that was choked by thorns. We will finish that choked seed this time. Let us revise the relevant verses from last time:-

{{Luke 8:14 “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are CHOKED WITH WORRIES AND RICHES AND PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE, and bring no fruit to maturity”}}

{{Matthew 13:7 “Others fell among the thorns and the thorns came up and CHOKED THEM out,”}}

{{Matthew 13:22 “The one on whom seed was sown AMONG THE THORNS, this is the man who hears the word, and THE WORRY OF THE WORLD AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES choke the word and it becomes unfruitful”}}

{{Mark 4:18-19 “Others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns. These are the ones who have heard the word, and THE WORRIES OF THE WORLD, AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES, and THE DESIRES FOR OTHER THINGS enter in and CHOKE THE WORD, and it becomes unfruitful.”}}

LOOKING AT THE STATED ITEMS OF DEFEAT MENTIONED IN THE GOSPELS

Does it then come down to a matter of priorities? I think in many cases it does. I can recall in the case of the two men cited earlier (in the last message) certain factors that overcame them, one was rationality in the end dismissing any God, and the other, peer associations in the world. If the faith is not fed, but more interest is taken in the development of “other things” those other things will dominate, grow up well, and choke the stunted Christian growth.

Luke mentions, “WORRIES, the deceitfulness of RICHES and the PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE.” Mark adds the similar item, “DESIRE FOR OTHER THINGS”. All these are very real (tangible) issues of life, not hypothetical reasons advanced by a brainstorming group.

[A]. WORRIES

Worries are real and very severe for some people. Making ends meet, struggling in and out of work, faltering marital relationships, wayward teenagers and children, relationships with people and family, and severe trials of life, all assault people, sometimes advancing in centurion-tank style. The principle of being steadfast in the Lord, establishing one’s foundations on rock solid faith in Him, is the only way of meeting these onslaughts for the Lord’s faithfulness is not in question. Our holding to the lifeline might be.

This again is a difficult area to be working in. Some people are very sensitive in their personalities and when things go wrong, they find it hard to cope. Others are concerned about things all the time and they are termed “worriers”. Mark uses “worries of the world,” meaning worries and concerns and problems you get by living in the world. Is it wrong to have these worries and concerns?

I would be a hypocrite if I said, “It is wrong.” We all encounter them and they can get us down. All worries want to climb up on our backs and weigh us down. I yet have to find a person who is not worried about something.

It is not the worry part that is problematic. It is the utter defeat worries can bring into our lives. To be weighed down so much that you let slip what is important in life is when you are in real trouble. That is what the third class did in this parable. They let God go instead of embracing Him further. They walked away from God. The soil produced failure and defeat.

I do not want to digress here too much, but Christian teachers have written on issues such as “How to handle the matter of worry from the bible.” I won’t do that in this study. Often I quote this passage – {{Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me all who are WEARY AND HEAVY-LADEN and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls”}}

Let us add this one also for this is a passage of priorities. There is always a divine order. Can you see it in these three verses? {{Matthew 6:31-33 “Do not be anxious then, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and all these things shall be added to you.”}}

*** GETTING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT – The matters relating to God must come first. The people in this third class reversed the order and that brings grief. {{Matthew 6:33 “BUT SEEK FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.”}}