“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.” Mark 4:18-19
Worries, deceitfulness, choke and unfruitful – Those are not very pleasant words. Those are not words describing when we are resting in God’s love.
Worries of life
But so often we let like burden us down with worries about things that do not matter. Even if they are of importance, we can’t carry that burden. We must place it on the shoulders of our savior.
What if we don’t have enough? – this mindset forces us to be consumed by protecting our money. We get into self-protection mode, striving for more, and extreme risk management mode. It can force us into bondage and not be free to let the Holy Spirit lead us.
Deceitfulness of wealth
Our society tells us that wealth will satisfy and solve all our troubles. If we just had more. We have to understand that Jesus is saying that mindset is wrong. It is deceitful. It will lead us down a path of misery.
We think wealth provides us with a life of leisure that will satisfy but never does. If I just had more, I would be able to buy things and live a life of happiness. This turns to self-indulgence.
Desires for other things
This world tells us to follow our desires. They will satisfy. These other things, outside of Christ, will fill those desires.
Filling the void- When our overwhelming desires for things outside of Christ take over we become miserable, wrapped up in bondage.
Jesus tells us that we may hear the word but the worries of life, wealth and striving for other things outside of a relationship with Him will choke out what is Truth and make us unfruitful. We seek after those things of the flesh, which leads us down an unsatisfying, unfruitful, destructive path. We cannot be fruitful in living the Gospel and letting others see and hear Christ in us.
Release the yoke of slavery and breathe. Rest in His love.
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