Time to Check the Soil

 

“While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.

Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

Still other seed fell on good soil.

It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

Luke 8:4-8

 

In the parable above, the farmer is God.

We are told that as he went out to sow his seed, he scattered it.

Consequently, the seed fell on four different areas, a path, rocky ground, among thorns and on good soil.

The sower was somewhat indiscriminate in how he sowed the seed.

When you fertilize a lawn you can choose between a broadcast or drop spreader.

I happen to like a drop spreader because it is easier to control where the seed, fertilizer or other product is being placed.

Not so this farmer.

He scattered the seed far and wide.

The key to the seed taking root and growing well was the condition of the soil.

You and I have a responsibility when the seed of God’s Word is sown in us.

Are our hearts hard packed, rocky, thorn-filled or fertile?

Can we expect very little growth or a bumper crop?

In this parable, as in our lives, God is not stingy with the seed.

Today, it is scattered plentifully through local churches, TV and radio broadcasts, the written word and perhaps most importantly others’ conversations with us concerning the things of God.

How do you receive that seed?

Is it cherished or cast aside?

Do you appreciate that, although it is spread far and wide, it is still precious to the farmer, i.e. to God?

Is it likewise precious to you?

When was the last time you did a soil check of your heart?

Maybe it’s time once again.