Lack of Fruit, 2of2

~ 2 Major Causes of Unfruitfulness ~

In this second post regarding the Parable of the Sower we look at two root causes (no pun intended) of lack of fruit bearing as related to the second class of soil—that which falls on stony or rocky ground.

Lack of Root (Christless)  ~  “He [Jesus Christ] spoke many things to them in parables, saying:  ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.  Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.  But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.  But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’” (Matthew 13:3-9).  Our Lord explained this parable, “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:  when anyone hears the Word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the Word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, immediately he stumbles.  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.  But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23).

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). 

Lack of Sufficient Moisture (Spiritless)  ~  “And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: ‘A sower went out to sow his seed.  And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.  But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.’  When He had said these things He cried, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear!’ (Luke 8:4-8).   “Now the parable is this:  the seed is the Word of God.  Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the Word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the Word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” Luke 8:11-15). 

Jesus said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Lack of Fruit, 1of2

~ 4 Metaphors of the Heart ~

In the remarkable Parable of the Sower Jesus Christ presented four word pictures of the gospel seed following on different types of ground.  This parable represents four types of response to truth as it is presented to different types of individuals.

Wayside (no growth)  ~  This seed lays on the surface making it easy for birds to steal it.  Being on top of the surface also makes it is easy to be trampled on.  There is a lack of understanding—not even initial growth.  It is easy for Satan to neutralize the seed by erasing it from memory.  In this group of hearers are mockers, cynics, and unbelievers. This is the “old man” (Romans 6:6; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9) controlled by the god of this world—Satan himself.  Jesus put it this way, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside” (Matthew 13:19).

Stony Places (initial growth)  ~  This seed lacked moisture.  In contrast to the seed on the wayside there was initial growth but it lacked ongoing moisture.  This individual got sidetracked when the troubles of life came along—never developing any root.  Often those who are attracted to the health and wealth gospel, the feel good gospel, or who only have an emotional experience fall into this category.  They seek Christ on the basis of “What’s in it for me?”  They are too busy doing life on their own terms to spend time with the “water of life.” Jesus said, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14).  Listen to how Jesus explained this part of the parable, “He who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Matthew 13:20-21). 

Thorns (growth for a time)  ~  These hearers begin to progress but then something happens.  Somewhere along the way their faith begins to be choked out by the cares of life or the deceitfulness of riches.  Perhaps they are emotionally wounded by another believer.  Life becomes hard and they fade away from their first love.  They become what some have labeled as the carnal Christian—trying to maintain a foot in heaven while being a tourist on earth (rather than a pilgrim and ambassador for Christ).  (Compare the Parable of the Great Supper – Luke 14:15-24).  Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13).  Jesus explained this part of His parable, “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). 

Good Ground (Godly growth)  ~  This is the normal (not average) Christian growth pattern.  Steady growth which results in spiritual growth.  This is the “new man” in Scripture (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)—that is, the fallen man restored to relationship with Jesus Christ.  As these individuals grow they become increasingly like their Savior.  Our Lord said, “He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:23). 

summary:  “Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .