The Three Deadly Thorns

“As thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” I Kg 20:40

The man was simply busy with “other things” but he wasn't doing his duty – our duty is to produce fruit which can not happen when other things are in the way. He was busy with this and busy with that, he was busy here and there. . . but he wasn't busy with the task given to him. What a devastation it would be for our God to pull us up to heaven after many years upon the earth and our only excuse is: “As I was busy doing this and doing that for myself, your purpose was neglected.”

Think of how often you have invited someone to church and they had “other things” or when you asked them to attend a song service and they had “other things” or to midweek service or to a prayer service or to a Bible study and again “other things” had the priority and kept them from going.

There is only a certain amount of nutrients in the soil and if the thorns get it, the wheat must go without it. If the world gets our affection, Jesus must go without it. When the thorns begin to grow - which will win the soil of your heart the flower of Grace or the thorns of Sin? The plant of the Spirit or the weeds of the world? Your Faith or your Flesh?

Conclusion: Spurgeon said “If our thoughts run upon care and pleasure they can not be eager about true religion.” The thorns starved the wheat. You will notice that these three thorns are all on the same vine of The World, where worries and wealth and other things pull our hearts and minds away from God.

If you feel any conviction at all this morning, praise God for it. Without conviction, the thorns can never be removed because you will never see them. But once we plow deep down and pull them out by the roots, then we begin to make good soil then the great grace of God can grow in our hearts and if we cherish it and practice it with earnestness, it will produce a crop of thirty, sixty, or a hundred time what was sown! Good soil is fruitful soil – and what wonderful fruit it is – it isn't just a blessing to you but to everyone around you! When will we realize all of the world’s pleasures can not compare to the joy that comes from Christ? The cares of the world rob of us of a greater happiness that we have in God. Love, hope, peace, and JOY – who wouldn't want that? But until the worlds thorns are removed, Gods fruit will not grow in you. Pull out the thorns and plow the ground and that will make you good soil again. Amen.