March 3 - The Four Soils
Jesus was a fabulous story teller. The crowds loved it, because he spoke their language and used metaphors that were a part of their daily lives. He spoke of farmers and families, of treasure and shepherds, lost sheep and robbers. His stories were parables, meant to have a point, or lesson. When we read one of his parables we must ask, “So, what’s the point?” Today’s blog is about the first of his parables in the gospels. We can all find ourselves in it. I will comment very little, as the story speaks for itself.
“Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:
‘Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plant so they produced no grain. Still other seed fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!’ Then he said, ‘Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.’”
At this point you can see them scratching their heads, wondering exactly what his point was. The apostles were among the head scratchers, because later, when they were alone with him, they asked him the meaning of the parable.
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted.’”
In yesterday’s blog I talked about choices; specifically, the choice to believe and to live in faith. That’s where this parable starts. It goes on to reveal our faith as a reproductive faith, meant to produce fruit in the lives of others.
I believe that the third soil…where the message is crowed out by the worries of life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things…is the soil of this age, especially in America. Our culture is economically built on dissatisfaction, the desire for more, ever more, and the pressure of working for success. But I also believe that much of the world is the fourth soil, as we see the word of God’s great gift and hope spread and accepted in huge numbers in countries previously resistant to the gospel.
“What’s the point?” The point of the parable is very personal. What kind of soil do you choose to be? You will find yourself somewhere in this story…I hope at its end, living as an ambassador for the Kingdom of God, reproducing your faith.
Prayer: “Great Father, tiller of the soil of the hearts of this earth, may the seed of your word find a fertile home in my heart, so that it will prosper in the purpose for which you intend it. Make the faith of my heart great, happy and open, so that others can prosper in its truth and hope. Make a light of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Taft Mitchell, 2/22/2013