The Sower

Mark 4 The Parable of the Sower

Did you ever know a man so wise that you were able to learn all of your lessons through the stories he told? He didn’t have to teach you lessons; he just made you think about the stories he told. Jesus was that type of guy. He shared the parable of The Sower to a crowd that gathered around him. They gathered around him to listen to what he had to say, and he took that opportunity to tell stories with meanings instead of filling the air with empty words. Jesus tells the story of a sower who scattered seeds that fell on four different types of soil.

The first type of soil was hard, and the seed could not be planted. It didn’t even have a chance to sprout or grow because it just laid right on top of the ground and was snatched up instantly by birds looking for food. We all know this kind of dirt. It feels like cement. Sometimes even when water hits it, it still puddles up because it is so dry and unable to absorb anything.

The second type of ground was filled with mostly rocks. In fact, there wasn’t much soil at all amongst the stones. When the seeds fell they did begin to sprout, however, they could not grow because there were too many rocks in the soil and it prevented the plants from being able to grow deep roots, and so the plants quickly withered in the sun.

The third type of ground was thorny and full of weeds. Although the seeds were planted and began to grow, they could not compete with the number of thorns that overtook it. The plant died being suffocated by the weeds.

The fourth ground was good soil that allowed the seed to plant deep, grow strong, and produce fruit. I imagine something like sandy Loam. They landed in a spot that collected water sun and nutrients and the seeds grew into plants and grew to be big with thick, healthy roots that run deep into the ground.

When I go to church, I like to take notes and then revisit them on Monday evening after I watch the sermon again on YouTube. I am sure to study the lesson to make sure I can get all that I can out of it. I go through my week looking for opportunities to practice what the pastor thoughtfully planted to be sure that the word is taking root and will grow into something big enough that will be fruitful enough to share with others.

I remember when I used to go to church and just listen and then walk out and go about my week giving little thought to what I heard on Sundays because I didn’t feel like studying. Sometimes something in the day would trigger a piece of the message, but it would leave my mind just as fast as it came to my head, like the seeds that weren’t able to take root in the rocky soil. The seeds that the pastor was planting were falling on the path of my life but was being devoured by other thoughts as I went about my days, weeks, and months just like the weeds.

It is essential to take responsibility to make sure your heart is good soil so that way the word will take root and grow. You need to water it, nurture it, and foster it so that you can be fruitful enough to share with others. What good is it to go to church receive the word and then go back to our friends who are involved in worldly activities that by the end of the week have intoxicated our soul and killed whatever seeds were planted? We will never grow that way. Be conscientious of where you are allowing your seed to fall.