Bad or Busy? –“The Thistles and Thorns of our lives.”

The Parable of the Sower

“And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: ⁵ “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶ Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. ⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. ⁸ But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” -Luke 8: 4-8

In the last days — “the cares of this life” must become the primary concern for any true Believer. Jesus understood the nature of man and, as we will see in His explanation of this parable, it is the “soil and the ground” of our hearts (mind, will, soul, intellect, emotions) —our human condition, that prevents the Word of God from bringing forth the Dayspring of new life.

We are living in a time where “the cares of this life” have replaced faith in God, and in God alone, for many. The “crowding out effect” of thorns in our life works against the Word of God taking root, and thereby producing “the fruit Holy Spirit.” This can be very deceptive and misleading to a busy life full of “good activities.” Activities that are often a substitute for true spiritual fruitfulness and growth.

One reason for the common misunderstanding is that both “wheat and tares” come out of the ground in the very same field — and look almost identical without a very careful examination and discerning inspection. We must examine our own lives and work and ask, “Is this life and work one of God’s fruitfulness born out His Word planted in our hearts, or is it some other kind of work coming from a thorny and busy place?” What we learn from these parables and scripture is that the ultimate test will come from God.

“At the end of the age, one crop is harvested and the other is burned with unquenchable fire.”

As the seed (the Word) is constantly being given out by the Sower and cast upon “the ground of our hearts” our condition can either “scatter the seed,” causing us to miss the opportunity for true heart planting, or allow us to grow strong in the faith of our Lord!

Jesus describes the situation clearly in Luke’s writing and explains:

“Now the ones who fell among thorns are the those who, when they heard, go out and choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.“

We are also reminded by our Lord that in the Last Days even good things become distractions to our salvation. This occurs whenever our “good activities” and good deeds are out of alignment with the Word and the Will of God. We must remain mindful of these things. . .

“As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.…”

The full Parable is explained to those around Jesus wanting to know the Truth…

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. ¹³ But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. ¹⁴ Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. ¹⁵ But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

A final Exhortation of Love and Encouragement… Emphasis intended.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Carefully guard your thoughts because they are the source of true life.
Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.
Above everything else guard your heart, because from it flow the springs of life.
Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Keep your heart with all caution because from it is the outgoing of life.
Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.
Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; For out of it are the issues of life.
Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. -PROVERBS 4:23

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