Are You Choking?

“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”  Luke 8:14

Jesus often taught in parables. More times than not, He ended up having to explain the meaning of these parables to His disciples, who just couldn’t seem to get it. The Parable of the Seeds was no different. Thankfully, for the disciples and for us, Jesus explained what this parable means. 

In this parable, the seed fell on three types of ground – rocky, thorny, and good soil. In Luke 8:14 Jesus explained that the thorny soil represents people who hear the Word of God (the seed in the parable) but allow it to be choked out by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures.

If you read this parable carefully, you will notice that Jesus never said that the hearts represented by the thorny soil rejected the Word of God. Instead, it says that it was choked out. In order to be choked out, it must have been – at least to some degree – received. In the parable, some of the seed was trampled and snatched up by birds, some was received by rocky ground and never grew roots, some was received by thorny ground and was choked out, and some was received by healthy, fertile soil and therefore took root and grew to bear fruit.

This parable contains an important warning, especially for affluent Christians. The riches and pleasures of this world can choke out the Word of God in our hearts if we aren’t careful. We must be diligent to remember that all we have belongs to God and has been entrusted to us for His glory and for the good of others. 

We must be wise to learn the difference between a need and a want. But most of all, we must be willing to surrender our hearts to our Heavenly Father daily, cooperating with His rule and reign over our lives. Our prayer should be as King David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Father, please forgive me for the times I have allowed the riches and pleasures of this world to choke out Your Word in my heart. Please search my heart and reveal any “thorns” that are hidden there. In Jesus’ name, amen.