“Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
This verse is part of the familiar parable of the sower where Jesus describes four different responses people have to the hearing the word of God preached. One person hears the word but does not understand it and Satan immediately takes it out of their heart, so they do not believe. The next person hears the word and receives it with joy initially. But there is no root, no growth, and when persecution or trials come, they fall away from the faith. The third person is our verse for meditation in Mark 14:18-19. The word grows in their heart, but it gets choked and dies. The fourth person of course is the one who receives the word, understands it, and bears fruit some hundred-fold.
As faithful Christians it might be tempting to read this parable and only see ourselves as the fourth fruitful person dismissing the other negative examples in the parable. However, we should be careful to consider that although Jesus spoke this parable to the general crowd, He only explained its meaning to His disciples. Those who were already following Him. Therefore, it served as a warning to them to beware of the things that destroy a person’s faith.
So, the challenge for us today is to consider this parable and apply it to ourselves. Perhaps the first one can be dismissed for those who are following Jesus but what about the second? Have we suffered persecution for the name of Jesus? If not, have we considered what we would do in the face of persecution? Or maybe the third person is the most applicable to us. Are the cares of this world causing us to be unfruitful? Are we being deceived by riches? It may be better to understand the word riches as money in general. Are worries over money causing us to be unfruitful, lacking trust in the promises of God? Do we have desires or goals for things that are leading us away from Biblical fruitfulness? Are we fruitful in God’s priorities?
The Scripture describes fruitfulness as being full of the fruits of the Spirit as well as righteousness in general. Another way to put the message of this verse would be, are we allowing the worries of this world, anxiety over money, and desires or goals for certain things to choke out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and righteousness?
If we want to be the fourth person in this parable the Scripture tells us that we must put to death the deeds of the flesh, the old man, and walk in the Spirit. Only then can we be the disciple that is fruitful a hundred-fold.
Glory to the Lord of hosts!
His mercy endures forever!
Pastor Flynn
