Sowing on Good Ground

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Sowing on Good Ground

Written by Jeremy Bickelhaupt

Wednesday, 14 September 2011 10:25

By no means am I a farmer. As a matter of fact, I really don’t know a whole lot about agriculture. What I have learned is simply basic knowledge gained in a secondary-level science class: Put seed in dirt and water regularly. That’s it. For the most part, that usually has worked for me. But on occasion, my horticultural skills – or lack thereof – have been exposed in the form of a pathetic-looking plant. I remember a specific example, when my wife and I moved into our home a little over five years ago. One of the things we tried to do the first spring there was to add a flower bed in the front of the house. The project involved me mounding up some soil to elevate the bed higher than the grass level. I took dirt from the side of my home, where a rock bed would go, and moved it to the front where the flower bed would be. As I dug up the top soil, I noticed that it was grayish and very brittle and dusty. Beyond noticing this, I didn’t think much more about it. All was looking good – like a professional landscaping job if I do say so myself. The flowers that year didn’t seem to grow very well. It wasn’t until the next spring that I realized the problem. As I began planting the new plants, I saw what was left of the old roots from the preceding year. They were small and shallow and didn’t really grow outside of the pint of potting soil it was sold in. That old, nutrient-deprived soil that I had moved from the side of the house had compacted and had created an impasse. Watering it only made it worse. The soil needed air and nutrients and a little cultivation, something that had been lacking for years when it lay along side of my house. In my resolve, I added a fertilizer and mixed in some potting soil to the flower bed. It looked fluffy, dark and fertile when I was done. The flowers that year grew well – too well. They wound up spreading over the entire bed until the mulch had disappeared. Evidently, in my case, it was all about the soil. Jesus illustrates a very similar point to his disciples regarding soul-winning in Mark 4. He tells the parable of the sower. Take a minute and read verses 1-20 – I’ll wait for you. Several types of soil are mentioned in this passage, and each type receives the sown seed differently. The parable was confusing to the disciples, so Jesus had to explain it in verses 13-20. The very first clarification He gave them was that the seed is the Word (vs. 14). We now understand that Christians are to sow the Word of God – planting it in our hearts and souls. The question is: “How will you receive the seed? How’s your soil?” Let’s look at the soil types Jesus mentions in this chapter to see if you can identify with any of them. The way side (v.4, 15) The seed that is sown on the way side takes no root and is plucked up by Satan. Think of seeds that have fallen onto the ground – not planted in the ground. Birds (v. 4) and insects see it and consume it. The way side is a soil type that identifies the heart of a person who hears the word, but is not convinced due to Satan’s devices. Perhaps it is a sin he cannot part with or an attitude of rebellion. Whatever the device, the Word cannot take root. The stony ground (v. 5, 16-17) The seed that falls on stony ground takes root, but is unable to reach life-sustaining depth. When the sun appears, the root is scorched, for the root is shallow and unable to with stand the heat. This soil typifies the new Christian who immediately and gladly accepts the Word, but fails to do anything with it. When trials in life come and his faith is tested, this Christian gives up and dies spiritually. He does not receive the Word from which to draw his strength. If he does hear the Word, Jesus says that this person is offended. (Kind of like when you instruct someone to do right based on Biblical principles and he takes offense to what is offered). The end result is that this Christian is unable to bear the difficulties that arise from the Christian faith, and he is destroyed. The thorny ground (v. 7, 18-19) The seed that falls among the thorns will sprout, but they will soon be overtaken and choked out by the weeds and thorns. The roots of the thorn are aggressive and far-reaching. They rob the good seed from essential nutrients to grow. The thorny ground exemplifies the Christian who allows burdens and worldly pleasures (“deceitfulness of riches,” “lust of other things” – vs. 19) to overtake him. He gives the Word of God a chance, but values the things of the world more than that of the Word. Therefore, the Word is quickly overtaken by the cares of this world – making the Word of none effect. The good ground Seeds that fall on good ground are abundantly fruitful. Of all the other types of soil, Jesus is clear and concise in his explanation. He doesn’t expound on it like the other soil types, because the results of sowing on good ground are obvious. The good ground represents the heart of the believer who hears the Word and receives it. He accepts everything it has to offer him. He allows the Word to take root. Even more, he allows the root to penetrate the deepest part of his soul resulting in abundant Christian growth. His soil type is evident from fruit yielded in his life. Where has the Word fallen in your life? Is it able to take root in your life, or will it be destroyed? Jesus’ message is quite clear. Bad soil results in the destruction of the seed; Good soil will manifest abundant fruit. What kind of soil do you possess?

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 February 2012 10:38

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