“THE SEEDS THAT ARE SOWN AND THAT MATURE”

11/16/14

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Matt. 13

We are told of this parable of the seeds that are sown in more than once place in scripture. In this parable we are told about how the seed of the word of God can be choked from the world’s cares, from doubt, and finally how it can multiply and flourish if it is in the right soil.

I wanted to point out that there are other seeds that can be sown in our lives other than what we would consider as good. We know of the parable above because the analogy makes it clear that the good seed is the word of God, and “if “it is received on hearts that are open and ready for it, will produce good things in their lives. One should know what these good things are and how a person can thrive in allowing the good seed to grow in their lives. But it is also important to note that in the world in which we live, we are exposed to all types of thinking and philosophies which have seeds of thought that may well not produce healthy things in our lives.

There are seeds of thought where one might produce wealth in their lives. One can learn how to become successful and supposedly fruitful in accumulating wealth through all types of enterprises that are in books, videos, conferences, and other places of learning. One “may” in time accumulate a standard of living that can allow one’s self and family to thrive in our economy today. However, one can easily become deceived into thinking that pursuing wealth would bring ultimate happiness. There are many places in scripture where we are told that pursuing wealth in and of itself, may well end in tragedy. There is nothing wrong with having wealth in one’s life; the problem arises when we seek after wealth rather than seeking after God first.

4 Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven. Proverbs 23
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt. 6:19

Another seed of thought that can become very enticing is when we seek after other philosophies and belief systems that may seem to provide a way to happiness and fulfillment. There are as many of these ideas as there are the sands upon the shore. One particular philosophy or belief, is eastern religion, and in particular, transcendental meditation. Back some forty years ago I sought peace and happiness through this form of philosophy and I thought that I might find total fulfillment in it. My mind entered into a state of consciousness where the entire universe and I had become “one.” I thought that I arrived at a place of ultimate peace, but in time I finally realized that I had entered into a state of mind that was very trans-like. My world was actually only about me and how I could supposedly attain Nirvana. Soon after being involved in this particular belief system, I ultimately had a very deep spiritual experience with the living God and found out that all other forms of religion and philosophy were hollow in comparison to what I had found in the “living God” in the person of Yeshua, Jesus Christ.

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col. 2:8

If I had continued on the earlier road that I had been on, the “seed” that had once been sown, would have grown into a tree or mindset, where I would have become an entirely different person than the one that I am today. Each seed that one sows in time, ultimately takes root in a person’s mind and heart, either in a good way or an unhealthy way.

We are bombarded with millions of thoughts and ideas every day in our lives. Our minds are like sieves or sponges in how we absorb these things. However, we can choose what thoughts and ideas that we would want to take “root.” The seeds that are sown in the ground in time produce a particular type of plant or weed. There are millions upon millions of different varieties of plants that have grown around us in our world. Our minds and hearts also have many different varieties of seeds that have been sown many years ago, and perhaps are even now in the process of maturing. It is wisdom to know where the seeds that we have sown originated from. In time we will see what type of garden that we have.

Stephen Hanson