“Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns” – Jeremiah 4:3
If you came upon a gardener sowing seeds (or seedlings) on land he had not cleared and which was full of thorns, what would be your first reaction?
Would you be dismissive of his dismal attempts at gardening, or would you be philosophical about it, reasoning that perhaps that he had no interest or personal commitment to grow a plant? Would you perhaps shake your head in despair, wondering whether this was an act of groundless courage, folly, or something worse?
There is a reason why a farmer will plough fallow ground before putting in his crop. A serious farmer is unlikely to waste his resources: seed, money, labour, to sow among thorns – that would likely interfere with the growth of what he plants.
In Matthew 13: 3-9, Jesus told the crowd that had come to see him, a simple parable: of a farmer who scattered the seeds he was sowing, as was the custom of that time. Some of the seeds did well, but others poorly. The performance of the seed was not inherent in the quality of the seed, but in the soil on which it fell.
I have always believed that one of the saddest scriptures is Matthew 13:22 which describes why seed which would have done well, failed:
”22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful”.
In Jesus’ narrative, this was the third kind of soil onto which the seed fell. The first two did not seem to have it in them to nurture it. The path was solid ground so the seed which lay on hard ground was not embedded in soil where germination could start. Exposed as it was, it was no wonder that hungry birds saw it as food, and quickly took it away, depriving it of the opportunity of growing into a plant. The second soil had little going for it. Falling among rocks, there was little opportunity for it to grow the roots necessary to sustain its growth into a viable plant.
The fate of the third seed is tragic, for it fell on soil which could sustain growth, but other things were also using up the soil in competition with the seed, and sadly thorns which were on the ground, had the ability to kill off the seedling by choking it. It therefore failed to do well, mature into a plant that would produce fruit. This was only because it was on soil where other things (unfruitful and deadly), competed with it, and won.
Jesus, explaining the parable to His disciples, expanded on what he described as thorns. It is interesting that some were good things: riches, others were bad: worries (anxieties or cares). But inherently good or bad, they were equally harmful to the seed, for they both possessed the sharp edges that choked the seedling and prevented its maturity into a plant.
How does this apply in our lives? Perhaps the greatest good one can do for oneself is introspection, a self-examination that shines light on what would rather remain hidden.
If after some introspection, you find that your life has thorns, then this piece of advice is for you.
You may find yourself preoccupied with anxieties about many things in this life. Anxieties are the offshoots of fears. You may be fearful of a lot of ends and consequences, and you wring your hands wondering what would happen to you should certain eventualities overtake you. Allowing them to fill your heart, is to supplant God who has promised you rest.
Riches provide pleasures which may so enthrall that you have little room for a close walk with God. They may also present a different set of issues for they have the propensity of replacing God, for money (or wealth) answers so many of life’s problems that it removes the needs that make us dependent on God.
These “thorns” may not be inherently bad, but they can be for you, unless with intentionality, you choose to prevent them from consuming you, until you have no room for anything else, and especially, God.
What is the antidote to this absorption with things that represent thorns? The prophet Jeremiah had an answer for the people of Israel in his day: you uproot the ‘thorns’ before they take over your life and kill any meaningful relationship with God in the process.
Am I saying it is wrong to make money, or enjoy what it provides, or that you should not be concerned about the issues of life? Certainly not. But you must make up your mind to ensure they do not distract you from a dependence on God – godliness, to which you are called as a child of God.
Jeremiah preached, that before godliness, comes true repentance, and true repentance refocuses you on what matters in the grand scheme of things – a refusal to allow the distractions of life to compete with the word of God.
So, do you mean business with God? Do you want to get into a relationship with Him or to walk closely with Him? Break up your fallow ground and refuse to keep the thorns that will compete with, and attack the word of God to make you unfruitful.
Hebrews 12:2 enjoins you to keep your focus on Jesus, who initiates, and perfects your faith. As you do that, refuse to be distracted by the ‘thorns’ of this life. A harvest awaits the seed that is unencumbered by thorns.
Pull up the thorns!
