A Fruitful Life : Part 2
This text reveals several key INGREDIENTS necessary for producing “A Fruitful Life.”
In the previous episode of The Voice of Hope we began studying Mark 4:1-20, Jesus’ parable of the soils. We looked at the skill of the sower, the quality of the seed, and the first two kinds of soil. They were the hard-packed soil of the footpath and the thin soil with underlying bedrock. Today, we’ll look at two more types of soil and also the yields of good productive soil.
Listen now as I read a shortened version of our text, Mark 4:10-20.
And then Jesus moves on to the third soil type; the thorny soil. Once again, the question arises; “Why sow precious seed among thorns?” I think Luke’s record of this provides the answer. He wrote, “Some [seed] fell among thorns, and the thorns SPRANG UP WITH IT and choked it.”
Many varieties of thorny vines are rhizomes; that is, their root systems spread beneath the soil. In the winter, the old growth dies and deteriorates. In the spring, new growth will emerge from those root systems under the ground.
So, it is possible that depending on how the soil was prepared to receive the seed, the sower would not see any evidence of the thorns. That area of the soil may look just as good as all the other areas. It is only after the seed is sown and both the grain and the thorns begin to grow together that the problem is discovered.
In verses 18 and 19 of our text, Jesus explains the characteristics of the thorny soil. As the young stalks of grain and the young thorns grow together, literally becoming intertwined, the thorns overtake the grain and choke out its life. And the Greek word means to choke something until it is dead! Death precludes any possibility of bringing fruit to maturity.
Let me pause here to note something I think is important. Except for the very first soil, the hard-packed path, each of the other soils probably appeared on the surface to be suitable for sowing the seed. But it was what lay beneath the surface that was important in determining whether or not a crop was produced.
Now, let’s look at Jesus’ description of the thorny soil. Jesus said the thorny soil represents those who, as they are going forth, are “strangled” with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. As a result, they bring no fruit to perfection or maturity. Let’s take some time to examine the things Jesus specifically mentioned that strangle these fruitless plants.
First, Jesus mentions cares. What are the cares that prevent fruit? Matthew and Mark refer to “cares of the world.” In Philippians 4:6 Paul writes “Be care-full [or anxious] for nothing…” In Second Corinthians 11:28, he writes about all the care or anxiety he experienced as the leader of the churches. And in I Peter 5:7, we read, “Cast all your cares [anxieties] on Him, because He cares for you.”
Jesus is talking about a preoccupation with the affairs of this life. It is investing my time and energy in things that may not be wrong in themselves, but they take me away from what is most important. My thought processes are patterned after the ways of the world rather than after the ways of God. Many people claim they want to follow Christ and be fruitful in His kingdom, but they can’t find time in their busy schedule to make it happen.
An older friend of mine told me how he subscribed to the morning edition of his local newspaper. Every morning, the paper was there on his doorstep. It was the first thing he read as he began his day. But one day, he realized that his time with the morning paper was displacing his time in the Word. It was hindering his desire to be a Christ-follower. How would you have responded to that revelation? My friend canceled his subscription to the morning paper and spent time in the Scriptures. He told me how the change of focus in the morning changed his focus for the whole day! He wanted to be fruitful, so he took steps to facilitate the process.
Next, Jesus mentions riches. Now before you say you’re not rich, just think a little bit. Compared to 90% of the world’s population, you’re rich. Not only that, but the Scriptures also warn us that it is “those who have a desire to be rich that fall into a snare and many foolish and hurtful desires.” I’ve found that preoccupation with ‘stuff’ can easily strangle my relationship with Jesus. I feel obligated to maintain a certain standard of living and that means I must work long hours to finance my lifestyle. Relationships take a backseat to productivity.
Both Matthew and Mark use the phrase “the deceitfulness of riches.” Another way of saying this would be the delusion of riches. What is deceitful or delusory about riches? First, they promise what they cannot deliver. They promise relaxation but bring tension. They promise happiness but bring sorrow. They promise security but promote worry. They promise power but bring slavery. They promise status but bring insecurity. I could expand on each of those statements, but you can do that yourself.
If you’re like me, you probably know what it’s like to finally purchase something that you’ve needed or wanted – after a long wait. And you have this expectation that owning this particular item is going to bring you some additional happiness or comfort or some other positive feeling. But, lo and behold, when you finally get it that feeling you anticipated either doesn’t materialize or it lasts just a very short time. That’s the deceitfulness of riches.
Finally, in Luke’s record, Jesus mentions pleasures. The Greek word is hedone’. Does that word sound familiar? It is the root of the English word, hedonism. Hedonism is the doctrine or belief that the chief goal in life is pleasure or happiness. If that is not a description of most people’s reason for living, I’m not sure what is!
One of the interesting things I learned about the use of this word in the New Testament is that it always refers to physical pleasures. And a focus on physical pleasures leads to the neglect of essential disciplines. Proverbs 20:4 tells us “The sluggard will not plow when it is cold; therefore, he will beg in the harvest and have nothing.” Anything that brings physical discomfort will be rejected. We see the evidence of this all through our society today!
We must remember that in this text, Jesus is talking to potential disciples. Many people today claim they want to follow Christ; but only if it is fun. Plan a picnic or a ballgame and you’ll get lots of people. Plan a prayer meeting or a time of fasting in your church and see what you get for attendance. Tell someone else about almost any event you’ve participated in and what will they ask? “Did you have fun?” or “Did you have a good time?” Pleasure has become the ultimate measure of value.
What then is the outcome of this thorny soil? Sadly, it brings no fruit to maturity. The prophet Jeremiah wrote to the people of Israel in this way. “For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.” That’s Jeremiah 4:3, written in the context of idolatrous and pleasure-seeking people.
When you and I stand before the Judge of all the earth to give an account of what we’ve done for Him, what will He say? Will the things we’ve accomplished in life be, in His judgment, considered wood, hay, and stubble; things that will be burned up? Do you and I want to enter into His presence with no eternal rewards? If we allow the cares of life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pursuit of pleasure to determine our life choices, that is where we will find ourselves. No fruit to offer the Master; how tragic!
The final soil quality Jesus identifies is the good soil. This is the soil type I want for my life. How about you?
Luke describes the good soil as those followers of Christ who have an honest and good heart. Matthew describes them as hearing and understanding the Word. As you meditate on both of these descriptions and examine the words Jesus used, you discover a key concept, obedience. Jesus had spoken of this in the final verses of Luke chapter six, with the illustration of the wise man and the foolish man. The wise man was the one who heard the word of God and obeyed it. As a result, his house endured; he had lasting fruit.
Mark says that the good soil is represented by those who hear the Word of God and keep it. That means they hold it fast, they embrace it, they make it a part of their daily living. They see the embrace of truth as essential to fruit-bearing, not incidental to it.
They understand that good soil doesn’t just happen. Good soil must be cultivated; stones must be removed, and weeds must be rooted out. Soil health must be maintained through fertilization and crop rotation. There is a need for conservation, so the soil is not eroded or depleted of valuable nutrients. Maintaining good soil is HARD WORK!
They also understand that fruit-bearing is a process. James reminds us that the farmer has “long patience” as he waits for the precious fruit of the earth. How much more should we have patient endurance as we wait for eternal fruit to be produced in our lives? In John 6:66, after Jesus gave teaching about the need to be spiritually identified with Him, the text says, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.” In their minds, the cost of following Christ was too great, and they would never bring any fruit to maturity.
What are you doing to maintain healthy, productive soil? It won’t just happen on its own, it will take diligent effort on your part. In your pursuit of bringing fruit to maturity, you will probably miss out on some things that others find pleasure in. But their enjoyment is only temporary. The fruit produced by a godly life will bring its reward now and in eternity. Good soil will bring a reward for faithfulness!
The Final INGREDIENT (necessary for a fruitful life) is,
The Quantity in the Storehouse
In verse 8 of our text, Jesus states that the good soil brought forth thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Not all good soil is identically productive. A hundredfold means the seed produced one hundred times more than what was originally sown.
This is what you and I can expect if we cooperate with God in maintaining good soil in our hearts. We must begin by having the disposition to hear. That must be followed by a willingness to have the bedrock of our pride and self-righteousness smashed; broken to bits by the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Add to that the rejection of worldly priorities and pleasures, and the pursuit of riches. It includes an honest and good heart that embraces the Word in every area of life, even when it causes us to be in the minority of professing Christ-followers. But Jesus promises that a life of fruitfulness will follow those who understand these factors.
Having delivered the parable, Jesus cries out; “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” That is, let him hear with a heart inclined to obedience. Will you and I hear what Jesus is saying?
Do you want lasting fruit from your life? I do. For that to happen we need to understand the critical INGREDIENTS necessary for a fruitful life.
First, we must understand the skill of the Sower. His skill is unmatched, and He scatters the seed liberally everywhere in the hope that even the least productive ground will yield some fruit. And, if ever there was a person who sowed perfectly, it was Jesus.
Second, we must understand that the seed of God’s Word is of the highest quality. There is nothing that can compare to it in purity and potential.
Third, we must understand the condition of the soil, and make it our goal to allow the Word of God in the hands of the Spirit of God to plow deeply in our hearts. The more we submit to God’s Word the less the things of earth will attract us. We will be able to concentrate on what matters, bearing fruit to God’s honor and glory.
And finally, we must understand the quantity in the storehouse. Our rewards will be based on our faithfulness to the Master and how we have ministered to His needs. Jesus said we minister to Him by serving others. What is in your storehouse today? What will be in your storehouse for eternity? Are you living a fruitful life?