The Parable Of The Sower
Matthew 13:1-23
Pull Up The Weeds (vs 7, 22 & Luke 8:14)
Only Eden was free of weeds. Since then all good gardeners have spent much time pulling up unwanted invaders so the productive plants can grow unhindered and uncrowded. The soil of our heart seems to easily sprout both the prickly and the pretty. It is our duty to be pulling out the weeds so God's Word can grow to maturity.
In this parable, Jesus listed three thorny weeds which can choke out God’s Word in our lives. “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature.” Luke 8:14
Life’s Worries
Now there’s a big weed! What have you ever worried about? Or perhaps the better question is, what haven’t you worried about? God knows are hearts are prone to fret, and He wants us to pull up that weed while it is still small. In Matthew 6:25-32 Jesus gives us specific instructions about worry.
What does He say we should NOT worry about?
And why does He say that we should not worry? (vs 32)
Matthew 6:33 tells us to spend our energy focusing on God instead of fretting about ourselves. What are you anxious about today? How will you seek God first in the middle of the mess?
If your heart is full of worry, copy Philippians 4:6-7 on a card and carry it with you today. Memorize God’s promise of peace and let Him guard your heart and mind from the weed of worry.
Life’s Riches
Being rich isn’t wrong, but wealth can become a weed which chokes out God’s Word. In Matthew 13:22 Jesus said that the deceitfulness of wealth can suffocate the good God is growing in our lives. How do you think wealth can be deceptive?
Read the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21. How has greed been a weed in your life? Have you pulled it up? Really? All the way from the root or have you just cut it off where it can’t be seen from the surface?
We all need to be richer toward God. How will you invest in the eternal today?
Life’s Pleasures
If pleasure was a problem back in the pre-modern day of Jesus, then we are certainly in trouble now! Life today is filled with more time and money than ever in history, and we seem to have no trouble spending both on pleasing ourselves. Having fun and feeling good aren’t bad unless our means of getting there are sinful and our motives are selfish.
What things bring you the greatest pleasures in life?
How do you put what brings you pleasure as a higher priority than your personal relationship with God?
How can you make your hobby more holy?
Have you ever noticed that much work is required for a productive garden but that weeds seem to grow no matter what the conditions? This fact of the farm reminds us to be diligent to dig out those weeds while they are still small when they are much easier (and much less painful) to pull!
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