The Parable of the Sower

 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seeds fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” Mark 4:3-8

Preparing the Land for Planting

The farmer does not plant his seeds into hard, packed soil. He breaks up the compacted earth into finer bits for planting seeds. This process also removes weeds and undesirable roots from the earth.

We, too, need to break through the hardened places in our hearts and lives to prepare a way for new growth. Besides, this preparation will remove some of the lies and undesirable strongholds that have taken root in our lives. So how do we prepare?

Have you ever had a season where your heart grew cold to God? During my college years, I went off on a wild streak and left behind my faith. I went months at a time without attending church, I only prayed if I was in serious trouble, and I lived according to the flesh with no concern for the spirit. My heart had hardened.

After a few challenging years of trying to do life on my own, I came back to the Lord. I humbled myself before the Lord, and my heart softened. Humility will soften your heart and prepare it for fresh growth.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18.

Tilling soil requires digging into the ground and turning it over, therefore softening the earth to be prepared to accept the seed we plant. The farmer could not accomplish this back-breaking task for many acres of land without help. Often, they use big machinery to get the job done.

We cannot lay the groundwork in our hearts without God’s help. Psalm 10:17 says, “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart.”

Once we humble ourselves before God, allowing Him to dig out the hard places in our hearts, we will have room to promote the planting of seeds of hope.

Planting Seeds

Growing up, our family had a large garden. We planted rows of corn, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes, to name a few. When we went out to pick our bounty, we expected to gather exactly what we planted.

When planting the seeds, we followed the packages’ directions to make sure we planted them the correct distance apart, dug our holes to the depth recommended, and made choices based upon the climate where we lived. The better we were at following the instructions, the better a harvest we had.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8

Choosing what to plant is imperative to growth in our lives. When we invest time in the Word of God, in prayer, and in service to the Kingdom, our faith grows. Should we entertain only the flesh, we find destruction.

I have experienced both. As I delve into the Word of God, I find blessing after blessing in my life. But as I continue to indulge the flesh with food it does not require, I accumulate extra weight that is difficult to bear.

What is the meaning of the parable of the sower?

When the disciples asked about the meaning of the parable of the sower, Jesus replied:

The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown." Mark 4:14-20

We must be the seed thrown upon good ground. We can guarantee this by hearing the Word of God, understanding it, and obeying it. We must not let the weeds of the flesh push their way into our garden and overtake what we plant.

Reap what you sow is not karma. (Read more about this HERE)

A Good Fall Harvest

What will you harvest this fall? Have you humbled yourself and allowed Him to prepare the soil of your heart? I encourage all of us, myself included, to continue to maintain our soil by hearing and accepting the Word of God.

A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. Proverbs 20:4 MSG

Heavenly Father, I do not want to be a lazy farmer with nothing to harvest in the fall. I thank you for the grace to continually improve my soil management. I pray I always find seeds sown on good soil that produce a crop, some a hundred times what we sowed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.