The Parable of the Sower – Thorny Weeds Part 2.
Thorny weeds are the bane of every gardener. Mark explains the relationship between thorny weeds and the gospel.
The Reason for Thorns
It is interesting that the Bible gives us the reason for why there are thorns in our world; thorns are the result of a curse upon the earth because of man’s fall into sin. In Genesis chapter 3 we are told how Adam and Eve chose disobedience to God’s command, rejecting Gods provision. Curses came because of that choice.
Adam and Eve inflicted these curses upon themselves; God had supplied the man and woman a world where eternal life, peace and harmony reigned, and they chose death and discord instead. The ground was cursed, although good would come from the earth for food, the struggle would be against unwanted weeds having a determination against humanities efforts to provide for themselves.
Thorny Weeds in the Parable of the Sower
In the parable of the sower, Jesus illustrated thorns as a growth restraint against good seeds sown. The seed represents the Word of God spoken, and a thorny ground being one who hears those words, yet the worldliness of their living suppresses maturity, and no fruit develops. In our last episode we looked at thorns being the cares of the world and we will continue with thorns as “the deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things.”
Deceitfulness of Riches
We never seem to have enough. Our nature is to desire more in the hopes of attaining a greater sense of security and confidence in this world. The term “deceitfulness of riches” is the thought that if we are rich, we will be happy, and content.
This is a deceitful lie. We think that if we have more money, we have an insurance nest, in case the unexpected happens. We want that comfortable feeling. And the problem is, with our tendency toward sin, we could never have enough to reach true contentment.
The Apostle Paul gets to the core of the issue in 1 Timothy 6:6-10:
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:6-10
Seeds Choked by Ground of Thorny Weeds
The primary seeds the thorns will choke in this scripture is, “godliness with contentment is great gain…” We have already spent some time in this series considering how God wants us to be dependent upon Him and see Him as the primary care giver in our lives and again, this needs to be brought to the forefront.
If we have all our needs met, why do we get distracted with “wants?” The original fall into sin was Adam and Eve, not content with the perfect life God had supplied them, and Satan tactfully came on the scene introducing them to the thought of disobedience based upon the temptation of “wanting more.” Paul points out the fact that the love for money is a sin that leads down a path which can branch off into many potentially destructive and hurtful actions.
The Snare of Gambling
Gambling is a snare for many who become its victim. It is a destructive addiction, not only for the participant but there is great potential that those associated with the addict will also be affected. A few examples of potential repercussions that can come from a lifestyle of wagering money is, domestic violence, depression, substance abuse, and crime.
The Sin of Desiring Money
Paul is very relevant in his warning against this sin of desiring money.
In this world, riches give a sense of living security, but in God’s economy, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives “eternal security,” meaning that the salvation we have received cannot be taken from us. Also, when we trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as the full price paid for the penalty for our sin, we receive the Holy Spirit, which is the official proof we received salvation.
…when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Ephesians 1:13-14
God promises that He will never leave us “wanting.” Let us keep our faith in that fact and be content with what we have. May we not allow these thorns, to choke out of us the spiritual reality that there are riches we have now in Christ, and into eternity – we should find our contentment in this.
Desires for Other Things
In the Gospel of Mark chapter 10 we find a prime example of the Words of the Lord Jesus being choked by the thorns of “desires for other things” in the life of a man who came running to Jesus. He knelt before Jesus asking Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus responded to him pointing out a few of the commands listed in the ten Moses received from God in Exodus 20;
“do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not cheat others, honor your father and mother.”
The man responded quite pleased in himself, “I have been obedient to all these commands since I was a boy.” But there was one command that Jesus left out. The Lord knew how this man would respond, He knew his heart, so that remaining command would be the seed He would sow onto a thorny ground.
Jesus looked at him lovingly, and said to him, “there is one thing you have yet to do; go and sell all that you have, give to the poor, and your treasure will be in heaven, then come and follow me.” The man was sad at Jesus response, and he walked away grieved, because he was wealthy.
Lifestyle and Riches Can Be Thorny Weeds
Sadly, this man’s religious lifestyle and riches were higher priority than eternal glory and finding salvation in Christ.
Luke 6:19-21 says:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 6:19-21
The Thorn Choker
The thorn choker in this passage of scripture is, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” When we set our heart towards anything of this world over our love for the Lord this is an afront to Him.
What in our life has the greatest appeal? Is our appetite more for things of this world or for things concerning Christ? Where do the affections of our heart lie?
In 1 John 2:15-17 we read:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17
Worship
The word “worship” is made up of two words; “worth” and “ship.” “Worth” is declaring value and honor in something, with “ship” attributing reverence towards it. When we worship something, we are saying it is the most valuable thing in our life and it deserves our full attention and respect. Therefore, anything in this world that is placed above God is “idolatry.” A heart of thorns that primarily desires things of the world cannot bear fruit nor give full worship alone to Christ.
When Jesus died on the cross, He gave His all for us. We should give Him the worship and devotion He deserves!
Psalm 117:2 says,
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!
Psalm 117:2
God’s desire is for us. He wants everyone to be saved and be with Him eternally. He expressed His desire for us through sending His only Son, who suffered and died in our place.
1 John 4;15,16 teaches us that,
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us…
1 John 4;15,16
The last we read of thorns in the scriptures is when Roman soldiers weaved some into a crown that were aggressively placed on the head of the Lord Jesus before His crucifixion. This speaks of Him bearing the curse of the ground that was set against us. To believe in His work on the cross, trusting in Him, having dealt with the curse, means that in Him, restoration with God is made. Anything that was against us, has been put away, nailed to His cross; destroyed and done. Now there is nothing that stands in the way, nor can hinder our relationship with the Lord.
What do you think thorny weeds are? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
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