As we look into the parable of the sower and see the importance of holding fast the seed of the Word, we're faced with some things to watch for. Your heart (spirit) is the soil that Jesus spoke of in this parable. The seed is the Word (or words that are spoken) that Jesus is sowing at the time He spoke it.
As we go deeper into this parable that Jesus is presenting, we come to Mark 4:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word." Verse 19 goes on, "Then the cares of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamor and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word and it becomes fruitless."
This statement covers so many things that it's hard to determine which one is more serious. It depends on the person, I suppose, as to which one would be what would make the Word unfruitful.
In the world today, all the lines seem to have been blurred as to what's acceptable and what's not. Just listening to the voice of the people will choke out the Word. Some things that aren't always wrong can get out of hand. Having a camp at the lake is a fun thing, but this camp can become something that takes all your thought and time. The deceitfulness of riches is the idea that if we work two jobs and get ahead a little bit, then we can settle down in later years. The trouble with this is that what we make extra goes as quickly as the other and we never seem to reach our goal.
Many things we used to do in the world still have a hold on Christian people and they never seem to fully enter into the fullness of what God has for His people. Their witness has been tainted by lifestyle and they seem to not lead others to Christ.
These people don't seem to build their lives around Jesus, but try to fit Jesus into their busy lives. Their Christian walk becomes one of convenience instead of a necessity of centering on Jesus. They seldom attend church, they have very little outreach to other people, and they become self-centered instead of others centered. They find and fellowship with others they can feel more comfortable around instead of seeking a deeper walk with the Lord. I don't believe this has to do with their going to haven when they die as much as it has do to with their response to Jesus' Lordship here on earth.
I see a big difference in one 's choice to make Jesus his Savior and in making Jesus Lord of your life. I believe there's a difference between being forgiven of your sins and cleansed from all unrighteousness and in actually walking in and being led by the Spirit. These are those who Paul referred to as "walking as mere men" in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (Amplified) which says, However, brethren, I could not talk to you as spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates) as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet)." Verse 2 says, "I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it); but even yet you are not strong enough (to be ready for it)." Verse 3 , "for you are still unspiritual (having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses). For as long as (there are envying and jealous and wrangling and factions among you, are not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men."
If you will notice, Paul, in verse one, calls them "brethren." These aren't lost and unsaved people, but those who have no idea what happened to them after they were saved.
The cares and anxieties of the world entered in and choked out the Word. If your heart (spirit) is the soil for this seed, then you must "tend" the garden. If you plant a garden, then you must be prepared to weed it and tend it. If you fail to do so, then the weeds will begin to choke out the garden and what was planted will be greatly limited. Your garden will become unfruitful and barren of produce.
Notice how all these things entered in when you became good soil. The Word was the seed that was sown and all the other things came in from outside.
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