PROBLEMS, PRIORITIES, AND PRODUCTIVITY
MARK 4:16-20
MARK 4:16-20 NKJ
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. 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. 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."
This is one of my favorite parables of Jesus. The sower sows the word. This parable talks about how God's word can produce wonderful things, fruit, in our lives. And it shows us what is a hinderance to being productive.
The stony ground is the ground that is only productive for a brief time. This person hears God's word and believes it. They welcome God's word into their lives and begin to put it into practice. Until. Until trouble comes, problems come. Persecution comes. Everything was going great until all hell busts loose, and they quit. Maybe they are angry at God or overwhelmed by the problems. But they, in essence, stop believing and acting on God's word and become spiritually unproductive.
The thorny ground is another condition. This is the person that hears God's word, but they have so many other things happening. Their priorities are around the cares of this life. The desire for other things such as acceptance or material goods. The pull of money is another factor entering in. These are the people who are distracted with so much of life that God and His word are choked out. They are not against God; they are just consumed with too many other things. So, from a spiritual perspective, these folks are not productive.
But those who are good ground are able to hear God's word and put it into practice. They don't quit when times get tough. Instead, they stiffen their resolve and keep believing. These are the people who do not allow the stuff in this world to distract them and alter their priorities. Money does not rule them.Constant dreaming and thinking about other things that offer nothing substantial is not an issue. These are the ones who are focused and highly productive.
God's word will absolutely produce some marvelous fruit in our lives. But how productive we are is not up to God. We determine what kind of "ground" we will be.
APPLICATION:
How do you respond to trouble and problems? How is your focus? These are questions we must ask ourselves. But don't get discouraged if you are not happy with the answers. You can make the change and go from being stony ground or thorny ground to good ground. God's word has the capacity to produce, and so do you
PRAYER:
Father, help me become good ground. I don't want problems and wrong priorities to keep me from being productive for Your kingdom.