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I'm not much of a gardener. However, I do enjoy yard work. And, if the truth be told, there are at least some species of plants that seem to do quite well on my watch. Unfortunately, those species are weeds - and many of them seem to have thorns!
Thorns are nothing new. They've been around since the fall of man. Did you know that even Jesus spoke of them? It's true! One of the more intriguing references is found in "The Parable of the Sower." Here's Mark's version of the well-known story.
Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. Then Jesus said, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. - Mark 4:1-9
Not only did Jesus tell this story but, in response to questioning by his disciples, he passed along an interpretation of its spiritual significance. You can read that explanation in vv. 13-20 of this same fourth chapter of Mark. Let me just quickly tell you that Jesus made clear that the seed of which he spoke was a symbol of the word of God and that the various types of soil represent various types of people and their response to God's word.
There is a great deal that can be said about this parable but for our purposes, I just want to draw your attention to that thorny soil. Once again, here's what Jesus said about this soil in Mark 4:7...
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.
Later, this is how Jesus explained what he had in mind about the people represented by this soil type...
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. - Mark 4:18-19
The more I think about Jesus' teaching here, the more sobered I am by it. Allow me to explain.
The word of God - in whatever form, spoken, or written - is awesome in its power. Think back to Creation. God spoke the world into being. For instance he said, "Let there be light" and there was light. He spoke and things appeared. That's power!
In the New Testament book of Hebrews we read...
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12
Clearly the word of God is powerful. Yet, according to Jesus, there are some things that, if allowed to grow in my heart, can choke out the influence of this powerful word; things such as the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things.
Does that strike you the way it does me? If I am not careful to tend the garden of my heart, I can allow things to grow there that will distract my attention, making it easy for me to ignore the truth God would speak to my heart and thus, prevent his word from having its intended impact on my life. As I said, the more I think about that, the more sober I become.
How careful we must be about heart gardening! You and I need to come before God daily allowing the Holy Spirit to point out the existence of thorns in our hearts. By the way, the best time to get rid of these pesky weeds is when they are small and just starting out. (Take it from me, the guy with no green thumb. Even I know you don't want to mess with well-developed thorns!) And while you're dealing with those thorns, make sure you get the roots, too. Why allow them to keep coming back?
Worry must be replaced by trust in God. Being overcome by anxiety gets us focused on our problems rather than on our faithful God who lovingly watches over us and meets our needs as we walk in obedience to his commands. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Many people have falsely assumed that their stability in life is dependent upon the size of their bank account. Thus, they have given themselves over to the pursuit of amassing finances. Wealth masquerades as a source of security and while we all need a certain amount of money to function, money cannot buy things such as health, happiness, and certainly not spiritual wellbeing. Money makes a good servant but a terrible master. Don't be deceived! (I Timothy 6:17)
Some things we may desire are contrary to the will of God and thus, sinful. However, this is not the case with everything in which we are interested. Hobbies, for instance, might serve as an example. There may be nothing unrighteous about participating in them but when they divert time, energy, and resources from our love and devotion to God, they become dangerous spiritual liabilities. Let's remember what Jesus highlighted as the greatest commandment...
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. - Matthew 22:37-38
If you and I will be careful to follow these simple directions, the seed of God's word will spring forth and bear a harvest of righteousness in our lives which will bless others and result in eternal reward.
Now, just before we wrap up our weekly visit, let me point out the necessity of removing thorns from our hearts. If we do not eradicate them, they will choke out the good seed of the word of God. Thus, thorn removal is not an option for the believer. Your spiritual health and mine depends on making sure our hearts are good soil into which the seed of the word of God can be sown and mature.
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