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Where do you stand?
Standing on a mountain top, like the young man in the picture, used to interest me. I liked high places. Now in my eighties, it does not. However, where you stand in life is important.
My friend, I am sure you have probably heard the parable of the sower many times. A few days ago this Scripture was part of our morning reading. It caused me to think about those who heard the parable and about which group we would stand in today.
Often we miss how important Jesus’ parables are to us. We are so familiar with them that we read them and continue without thinking.
I thought it was worth looking at this one again, and I hope you agree. If we think, we will be able to see where we stand.
Where do you stand in this parable? Give it some thought and try to answer honestly. It will help you in your daily walk.
*Let’s start by reading it.
Mark 4:3-8 NKJV 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; the birds of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
I am sure some of you have planted a garden and placed your seeds carefully where you wanted them. This was not the type of sowing Jesus was speaking about.
In the past farmers sowed their seed by hand, casting right and left as they walked across the prepared field. Many of the seeds landed in places where they could not grow.
*There are several parts to this parable.
We have the sower, the seed, and the different places the seed landed. The people Jesus spoke to understand His story, but not its meaning. They, like His followers, were not quick to understand the parable.
If you are new to studying the Word of God, you may not understand this parable either. Thankfully, Jesus explains it to His followers in Mark 4:14-20 NKJV.
*The Sower
Everyone understood about the farmer or sower sowing seed, and how some would be lost in the sowing. What they did not understand was sowing the seed of the Kingdom.
Jesus explains that the sower is sowing something more powerful than what the farmer sows. He is sowing the Word of the Living God, the Creator of heaven and earth.
The sower could be Jesus or it could be you. However, whoever it was or is today it is God’s Word that is sown.
Jesus says, 14 The sower sows the word. Then He continues to explain the type of hearers to whom the word is shared.
We need to pay close attention to the different types of hearers. It is up to us to make sure we are in the right group.
*The first group is The Indifferent.
The Word of God is now being preached in this country and around the world, but often it is not acted upon. Many people do not pay attention to God’s Word or even make fun of those who believe.
Others change what it says to promote some idea of their own. Even preachers are guilty of perverting God’s Holy Word. In our day, we hear false ministers proclaiming hate for those who disagree with their false doctrines. Hate is not of God.
Jesus says, 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; the birds of the air came and devoured it.
This group is much easier to recognize than some of the other groups. They reject the message completely and often openly.
Jesus explains verse 4 this way, 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
They hear with their ears but hold on to the lies of Satan and the world. Their hearts are hardened and they cannot see the truth. Their hope of salvation dies before it has time to take root.
Make sure that you are not in this group!
*The second group is what I call The Emotional Hearers.
The parable says in Mark 4:5 NKJV Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
You have all seen them. They get excited about salvation and the church. It is all they can talk about for two or three weeks. When they don’t receive the rewards they expect, they move on to their next new high.
Their lives are not changed and they produce no fruit in the kingdom. They soon forget what they are excited about.
It is sad because they come so close to knowing the joy of a closer walk with Jesus.
Jesus explains this group in the following verses. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
When you accept Jesus, tribulation and persecution will become a part of your life. Your friends may leave you. Family members may no longer welcome you the way they did.
Some believers lose their joy and turn back to their old ways. Where will you stand when you face problems because of your faith in Jesus?
I can promise that the joy of staying with Jesus is worth all the struggles you may have to overcome.
*Then there are The Worldly Hearers.
You know many people like this. All of us are in danger of falling into false beliefs and allowing the world to pull us away from the God of our Salvation.
Jesus explains this type of person, 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
This could easily describe us. We can hear the Word, rejoice in it, and be thankful for all God has done for us. Yet, we let ourselves be overcome by the world.
You and I make choices every day. The same is true of all people. Sometimes our choices are good, and sometimes bad. You need to examine each choice and ask yourself if it is in line with God’s Word.
One of the things that we all make choices about involves our use of money.
Many of us were raised to believe that money and wealth were the answer to happiness.
Money is not the answer.
I have seen many in my life pulled away by their desires for things with no lasting value.
Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:9 NKJV But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Both the Old and New Testaments are full of examples of what will happen if we allow ourselves to focus on worldly things.
Where do you stand? Are you Spiritually Receptive?
To live productive Christian lives, we must be in this last group.
There are even divisions within this last group. Some can do more than others, but everyone’s work is valuable in God’s Kingdom.
You, if you choose to accept God’s call, can make a difference in the world in which we live. If you sow the seed, God will bring forth the harvest. His harvest will be for eternity. You will see lives changed when you introduce someone to Jesus.
Jesus will refer to you this way, 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Much of our harvest we will never see in our earthly lives, but God’s Word does not go out without touching lives. We, as believers, can be a part of that wonderful work!
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness…
Our prayer should be to be used by God in His Harvest.