IS YOUR SEED IN GOOD SOIL?

Jesus told a parable about a farmer who went out to sow his seed:
“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path: it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rocks, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

Jesus explained this parable to his disciples as follows:
“The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
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. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”( Luke 8:1-8)

As I read this passage from Luke, it clearly speaks to the listeners, those who hear the word of God. They may be hearing God’s message at church, on television, read it, or even study it; but because of the cares of life they don’t grasp it in depth. It is like building a castle on sand. When the waves touch the sand, the castle disappears. Many worry about their finances, how much money they can make on the stock market; others worry about paying bills, and the mortgage payment on their house. All are legitimate concerns, but Jesus tells us to be calm, not to be anxious about anything, but by prayer and supplication he tells us to bring our request to the Father. (Ephesians 4:6)
He adds, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”(Ephesians 4:19)

Remember the story of Mary and Martha? (Luke 10:39-42, John 11:1-44, and John 12:1-11). The Bible tells us little about these two different personalities. But from this brief account we learn how life was in their house in Bethany-and what life is often for us. Mary was the calm one, the one who didn’t care about what went on in her surroundings, immovable from the spot where she was, hearing Jesus speak. Martha was the opposite. She was more concerned about the chores that needed to be done. Making sure the house was clean, the cooking done, the chairs and table arranged. Sounds familiar? This is not to say one is right and the other is wrong. We are all different, and that is just as God made us to be. When Jesus corrected Martha, he didn’t say, “Why can’t you be more like your sister, Mary?” he knew Martha would never be Mary, and Mary would never be Martha. But when the two were faced with the same choice-to work or to worship-Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the better part.”

You see Mary’s seed was planted in good soil. She had a heart that was in the right place. To me, the choice was available to both Mary and Martha. And it’s available to each one of us, regardless of our personality. It may have been easier for Mary because of the mellow nature she displayed, while Martha was caught up in the “dos” of the day. Jesus was our supreme example. He was never in a hurry. He knew who he was and where he was going. He wasn’t held hostage to the world’s demands.

Today, many have lost that intimacy that Jesus invites us to share. Just as he welcomed Mary to sit at his feet in the living room, and as he invited Martha to come, leave the kitchen for a while and share the blessings. In obedience to Christ’s invitation for you, you’ll find the secret to living beyond the pressures that would tear you apart and take away God’s word. When the seed is planted in your heart, then you’ll begin to grow in faith and trust. You’ll begin to have a change only when you spend time at Jesus’ feet.
Jesus was that farmer that spread the seed (his word), but how it grows in our hearts depends on how we use our time to be one on one with Him. LET IT BE IN GOOD SOIL!