Maintain Your Heart

In Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, we read a parable shared by the Lord Jesus about the Word of God being shared with all people. The parable describes a farmer tossing seeds on different types of soil, and how that affects the way the seeds produce fruit. In this parable, the seed is the Word of God, and the different kinds of soil represent the different conditions that one’s heart may be in when the Word is shared. Today, we’re going to focus on the last two: the seed tossed in the midst of thorns and the seed that fell on good ground.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

What caught my attention first was that, in Matthew 13:22, Jesus said that the seed which fell among thorns becomes unfruitful. That means that it actually starts to grow and produce fruit, but the thorns suffocate the plant, and the fruit withers and dies. In fact, Luke 8:14 says that the fruit never matures. So what causes the fruit to be choked out?

Going back to the verse, we see that Jesus references (1) the cares of life and (2) the deceitfulness of riches. Mark also noted another detail which Matthew didn’t write down, where the Lord said that the desires for other things are also involved in the choking of the Word.

When we move to the next verse, Matthew 13:23, we see that there’s another kind of heart condition - good ground. The seed that falls on good ground not only begins to produce fruit, but also brings it to maturity. Again, in looking through Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we can put together a fuller picture of what “good ground” is made of. Those whose hearts are fertile for the Word to produce lasting results are those who hear the Word, believe and accept it, and act their faith. It is not only believing that Word of God that produces results, it is how we respond to it and what we do with our faith (James 1:22-25).

While this parable is about soul-winning, I also see it as a lesson for us Christians. In Jesus’ day, there were already distractions, and people were already running after riches, but today we have an even more saturated environment. With social media, it’s so easy to get caught in hours of mindless scrolling. Or what about binging on Netflix? Hustling with your 9-5, then 5-9, then that extra side gig to make some more money? All of these are right at our fingertips, yet they are thorns that can suffocate the Word in our hearts.

Say you go to church on Sunday and receive an inspiring Word. Maybe your pastor shared about the urgency of the hour, how close we are to the Rapture of the Church and the Lord’s return, and you felt a burning in your heart to tell someone about Jesus that day. You walk out the door, ready to go and talk to someone about the Lord, and then you get a call from a customer for your business, asking for a last-minute order. You happily accept, and you start planning on your way home. By the time you get there, it’s all about the order, and the burning you felt to win souls has seeped into the background. Once you finish with your order, you don’t even remember the desire to preach to someone, and you end up spending the day doing nothing about it. That desire for other things and the drive to make a profit became a distraction to you and, though the act itself wasn’t a bad one, it became a hinderance to you and stopped you from acting on what God placed in your heart.

Listen, I’m not telling you to quit your job, close your business, and never touch your phone or TV again. What I’m saying is that whatever you do, make sure it doesn’t take away from the burning fire of the Word in you. If you choose to go on social media, don't let it consume all your time and attention (it's kay to have a scroll-free day or two). If you run a business, be an excellent owner, but always make time to spend with the Lord, studying His Word, and doing what He’s asked you to do with boldness and faithfulness.

The time left for us to win souls is so short, and every moment we get closer and closer to the Rapture. While that day will be wonderful for all who are in Christ and expecting His return, it will be the first of many horrible sorrows for those left behind. We want to save as many as we can, which means we cannot afford to be lost in distractions. Moreover, we don't want to win souls and then find ourselves disqualified from the race because we let ourselves go. This is the time to be serious about your walk with the Lord.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

The cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches come in many shapes and forms, but if we set our gaze and our hearts on the Lord Jesus, we are able to put our priorities in place to allow the fruits of righteousness planted in our hearts to come to maturity. It’s all about putting the Word first in our lives. Cut the things out of your life that don’t serve you and don’t build your spirit, and balance the good things you’re involved in to ensure your time is well spent. This isn’t about being religious and never having fun - it’s about joyfully living in God’s Word and making our hearts fertile ground to bear fruits of righteousness continually.

"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)

I pray that this post blessed you, and that as you read, you’re encouraged to keep your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith. May He guide your steps always and give you strategies on how to manage all you have on your plate with wisdom. May your peace and joy be full in all that you do, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.