Parable of the Sower, Pt 4.
Today's Bible Reading: Matthew 13:7; 22
Supporting Passages: Matthew 19:16-22; Matthew 13:44
Over the past few weeks, we've been looking at the various soils in the parable of the Sower. Each one says something about the condition of our hearts.
So far, we've looked at the seed that fell on the path (the Confused Heart) and the rocky soil (the Troubled Heart). This week, we're exploring the seed that fell among the thorns. I find this type of soil to be the scariest. Here is what Jesus has to say about the seed that fell on this ground:
Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. ... The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. (Matthew 13:7; 22, NLT)
That's a pretty terrifying image, isn't it?
I imagine a healthy little sprout popping up from the ground. But then, slowly, thorns rise like zombies and drag the poor thing down to its death. It sounds like a low-budget horror film. Attack of the Zombie Thorns!
I call this type of soil the Distracted Heart. And I believe the Distracted Heart has a low view of God's kingdom. They believe the message of the kingdom is good news, and they want to be a part of it. But they soon lose focus because the worries of the world drag them down. Their loyalty is split between what God values and what the world values.
The Zombie Thorns have gotten their hooks in me many times. There is so much in this world to worry about. I worry about big things like my health and my family’s safety. I worry about small things like whether people like me and what I will have for lunch tomorrow. And when I want my stress levels to really jump through the roof, I worry about today's top headlines in my newsfeed. Each one is another thorn to distract me from God's kingdom.
I find it interesting that the thorns represent both "the worries of this life and the lure of wealth" (v. 22). I love how The Message Translation puts this verse:
[W]eeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it. (emphasis mine)
Worries and wealth are connected. Money is often at the top of our "Worry List." We think if we have enough of it, everything else on the list will magically vanish. But it's an illusion. No matter how much of it we have, we always need "just a little more" to feel secure.
In Matthew 19, Jesus has an encounter with a rich young man. This man has a genuine desire to follow Jesus. But the thorns of wealth distracted him from fully committing to God's kingdom. When Jesus tries to remove those thorns, the man won't let him. Even though he wanted the kingdom, he didn't think it was worth giving up all he had.
How do Distracted Hearts fight back against the weeds of worry and wealth?
We need a higher view of God's kingdom.
Part of the problem is our vision of heaven is much too small. We've been told that if we say yes to Jesus, we'll float off to heaven when we die. St. Peter will be waiting at the Pearly Gates to hand us a pair of wings and a harp. Sure, heaven is a nice enough place. I'd rather go there than to "the bad place." But the idea of spending all eternity on a cloud sounds kind of boring, doesn't it?
If that's our vision of God's kingdom, we will choose the kingdom of the world every time. We will keep chasing the illusion of wealth.
But Jesus' vision of God's kingdom is so much bigger than this.
When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, he wanted them to flourish. They weren't spectators floating on a cloud. God gave them meaningful work to do. They had the most exciting lives imaginable!
Think about everything you love about this world. The work you love doing. The passions and interests God put in you. The relationships he gave you. The beautiful artwork you've seen, the delicious food you've eaten, the breathtaking places you've been.
Now, think about a world filled with all those things but without the decay of sin and death.
It's a world where we see others for who they were made to be. Without sin, we become more of ourselves, not less.
It's a world where selfishness, envy, and pride no longer get in the way of relationships. A world where sickness and disease no longer prevent people from doing the things God created them to do. A world where there's always enough to go around, and we no longer feel the need to horde what's ours.
It's a world where God dwells with us.
This is the high view of God's kingdom we need!
If you have a Distracted Heart, I am right there with you. So often, my focus is on today's worries and whether I have enough. But just as Jesus loved the rich young man, he loves us. What he offers us is so much better than what we are willing to settle for.
The next time those zombie thorns reach up for me, I pray to remember the beauty of God's kingdom. It's a kingdom so beautiful it's worth giving everything for.
Questions to Ponder:
Can you relate to the Distracted Heart in any way?
In what ways have you seen worry and wealth connected in this world?
Take a moment to read another of Jesus' parables in Matthew 13:44. How does this short parable speak to the Distracted Heart?
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