The parable of the sower (4)

“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
Here we come to the third kind of soil that the seed fell on in the parable of the sower: the thorny ground. Jesus tells us this soil represents those who receive God’s Word, and it starts growing in their lives, but before it matures it is choked by the pressures of life. These people were unable to let go of their problems and hand them over to God.
There is a very important lesson here for us. The more we focus on the cares of our physical life – our finances, job, food, provisions, status etc. – the more God’s Word will be choked out of our lives. The way to avoid this is to keep our focus on God. We aren’t to live in denial about our problems, saying that they don’t exist; rather we should acknowledge them, while also knowing that God is bigger than all our problems. He will provide. Who – or what – are you focusing on today? Are you maturing in your Christian walk, or are the cares of life choking you and making you unfruitful?