Parable of the Sower – Thorns, Part One.
The presence of thorns can have a dramatic effect on the growth of the gospel. Mark Hillis continues his series about the Parable of the Sower.
Thorns, Thistles & Weeds
Thorns, thistles, and other weeds always make food production and harvest time more difficult. Weed control is a farmer’s constant battle. If he wants a productive crop, he must always be vigilant, persistent, and practiced to rid his field of tares. The problem with weeds is they compete for space and sunlight robbing the soil of moisture and nutrients.
In this third part of the parable of the sower, Jesus depicts the good seed of the Word falling upon a type of ground that is occupied by thorns.
Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
Mark 4:7
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Mark 4:18,19
Thorns That Dominate
The seed is “out of element” on this ground. The parable depicts the opposing plants growing up alongside the crop. The tender plants are foreign amid aggressive opposition. Like the stony ground scenario, there is a struggle of survival beneath the surface; the roots of the good seed are choked by the thorn roots, and above the surface the thorns dominate. The seed does not stand a chance to develop properly.
The Tug of War
The spiritual reality here is God’s word is heard and received by a soul with carnal tendencies. They obviously see value in God’s Word, but their investment in things of this world still holds worth in their estimation.
There is a tug of war within this person, a struggle of conflicting values, they want the best of both worlds, but they are opposites. One must dominate in the end. There is no rest until its settled. A life cannot be balanced between two opposing sides, we either lean one way or another. Jesus points out this fact considering a slave with two masters:
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other…
Luke 16:13
Unfortunately, the way this matter ends is that the things of the world overpower God’s Word; it does not die but fruitfulness is stunted, and the conflict is settled with compromise.
Worldly Distractions
As we look at the version of this parable in Mark’s Gospel, there are three categories of worldly distractions competing with God’s Word for this personality type: the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things. In this session we will consider the first diversion…
Cares of the World
A paradigm shift is a dramatic change in a way of thinking, when a usual thought pattern is replaced with a completely new way. This describes what happens in the mind of a Christian, receiving the light in the revelation of God’s Word. How the world was viewed prior to conversion is no longer seen the same. Eternal thoughts are set on the heart, and that makes the soul step outside of the world to see existence differently. The contrasts are quite stark, the fallen condition of man against the holiness of God, humanities sin nature against Christ’s grace and mercy, the wickedness of the world against the righteousness of Jesus sacrifice for its sin.
It is a completely different way of thinking.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.
Romans 12:2
Paul encouraged the Colossians to keep their minds occupied on eternal things, based upon their salvation in Christ; If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
A Change in Perspective
This change in perspective can expand and grow as a believer matures in their faith and relationship with the Lord or these thoughts can be choked out by immaturity with a mind preferring to dwell on the world.
We raise our children to be independent, and self-sufficient. There may be those who they can depend upon, such as family or friends, in some rough points in life, but there is no guarantee of absolute dependence. The view is everyone trudges through life trying to make ends meet, wanting to be loved and loved in return, doing their best to get along with everyone.
The cares of this world suck the joy out of life. Walking with the Lord is a contrast to this, where life is lived in dependence upon Him. He does not want us to live a life alone, struggling, and burdened. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” He wants the best for us. He is a relational God, and He wants to be a part of our everyday lives.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
…do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:25
Walking on the Water
In the gospel of Matthew chapter 14, we read of Jesus disciples going out in a boat onto the sea of Galilee, it was night, and Jesus was not with them when it got very windy. The water was rough. Jesus came out to them walking on the water.
Then they saw a figure walking on the water, they were terrified; Jesus said to them,
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus at once reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:27-33
Peter lost his focus on the Lord and began to sink. The influence of the wind and waves on his mind was greater than the influence of the Lord. Never had anyone walked on water; to be there and see the Lord doing it, and then himself participating, wow, what an experience… but his concern for the current circumstance outweighed the miracle. Likewise, the seed sown that is choked by cares of the world, is a heart that has taken its eyes off the Lord and is distracted from the miraculous salvation from the world they had received.
The Pride of Life
Another aspect of caring more for the cares of the world is preoccupation with self; the “pride of life.” A Christ centered life puts less of yourself out there and putting forward what is important to the Lord. This is another huge mind shift that happens, where life is less about me and more about God and others. Am I willing to put myself aside and put priority on being a sower of the word myself, helping others in need, taking part and giving of myself for my local church’s needs?
Cares of the world, care of self, cares for anything other than God’s will in our life is Satan’s tactic to choke the truth and suppress our usability. May we be on guard against his schemes.
What do you think “thorny ground” means? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
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