Of Seeds and Weeds

A farmer carefully prepares the soil to increase the chances of a good harvest. But the quality of the seed is of utmost importance. If one out of every ten seeds a farmer planted failed to grow, he would lose ten percent of his crop. If two out of every ten seeds failed to germinate, the farmer would lose 20 percent.

In this story, the seed was of the highest quality possible. It represented God’s word—the things important enough to God that he wanted to share them with us. In Jesus’ parable, there was nothing wrong with the seed. Whether or not it grew depended on the condition of the soil.

The parable of the sower was a story easily understood by the hearers of the day. But the spiritual meaning behind this description of a familiar agricultural process had to be explained . . . even to Jesus’ disciples.

The condition of my heart determines the impact of God’s word on my life. A hard or indifferent attitude can cause me to miss out on what God may be trying to say to me. The cares, riches and pleasures of life can crowd out the good seed, preventing it from reaching maturity.

God has given me his Word. My job is to prepare my heart to receive it.

Respond in Prayer

Lord of the harvest, thank you for your promise that your word will accomplish the purpose for which you sent it. Help me to prepare my heart to receive your word so that its roots may go deep and produce fruit in my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bill Bonikowsky

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).