IT’S THE GROUND
Luke 8:11-15 NKJV
11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
This is one of the most well-known of Jesus’ parables. This is the parable that shows how we can be productive in God’s Kingdom. One of the big takeaways from this parable is that God’s Word is seed that will produce a harvest if planted in the right kind of ground.
Jesus had shared the parable in verses 5-8 and then explained the parable in our verses for today. He starts with the simple statement that God’s Word is seed. Keep in mind that it was God who created the principle of seed time and harvest. The natural points to the spiritual. Everyone listening to Jesus that day understood the importance of sowing good seeds. And while we may be much farther away from being an agricultural society, we still understand this universal principle.
Jesus then outlines the four types of ground where the seed is planted. The first is the wayside ground, which is hard and unreceptive. This refusal to receive is what allows the devil to come and take the Word out of their hearts. They may have heard the word, but they did not accept it by believing it for themselves.
The seed sown on the rock would be those who are receptive to God’s Word. We know they believe when they hear the good news of God’s Kingdom, because it produces joy. This is different from the wayside ground that never received the seed. The rocky ground hears and believes, but when the heat is on, they give up. Jesus said they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away.
The seed sown among the thorns are those who are receptive to God’s Word and receive it. The reason they are not more productive is due to becoming too distracted and caught up with other things. Jesus said being preoccupied with the cares of life will impact the productivity of a believer. Too many things taking up heart space reduces the capacity of being fruitful. The pursuit of riches and pleasures, in effect, crowd out the pursuit of God and the harvest takes a hit. It’s not having money or nice things in life that choke out God’s Word; it’s all about what is the highest priority. Jesus said these other things act as weeds and take from us instead of helping produce good things in us.
And then there is the good ground. This is where you want to insert your name. The good ground is those who pretty much do what the other three types of ground did not do. They hear and receive God’s Word with joy. They stay with God’s Word even when trouble and pressure come. They do not get distracted and place the cares and stuff of this life as highest priority. And they are productive.
As a side note, I do not believe we can take this parable and apply it across the board to our salvation. When someone hears God’s Word regarding salvation, believes, and confesses Christ as Lord, they are saved. Some people fall away from the Lord during times of trouble and tests. Some become believers but stay in an immature state, caught up with the affairs of this life. Still saved, just not Kingdom productive.
PRAYER
Lord, I purpose in my heart to become the good ground that is Kingdom productive. Please reveal to me by Your Word and Your Holy Spirit the areas where I can adjust and become more fruitful.