The Third Soil--Thorny Ground

Matthew 13:22 (NIV)
22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.

Here is the typical American—and his wife. What is the trouble? Busy-ness, that's all.

It is not that he is uninterested; he is interested in the gospel. It is not that he is shallow; he isn't. He is very capable of thinking in depth, of analysis of issues and long meditation. He does it in business; she does it in her social life. The trouble is that he wants it all. He wants the fruitfulness of life that comes from the gospel, but with it, he also wants everything else. He wants the so-called "finer things" of life. We describe him as trying to keep up with the Joneses.

(That means buying things you don't need with money you don't have to impress people you don't even like.)

He wants a color TV set and a swimming pool and a fine home and two beautiful cars and a wide social life. The result is that he has no time to think about the Word, no time to receive it and meditate. He is too wrapped up with the cares of this world and the pursuit of things.

That is what is happening with so many people today. They want it all. They want everything that the world can offer and everything God can offer.

However, the remarkable thing about the Word is that God will never settle on those terms.

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 16:26 (NIV)
26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Stop a moment and think about this.