(Christian Living Sermon) Hillside 10/97
Filename: Choking the Word

THE THORNY SOIL: CHOKING THE WORD

INTRODUCTION-- The parable of the sower has been preached so many times, it is unnecessary to preach its basic lesson again. I do not want to apply all the soils in this lesson, but to concentrate on only two of them.

1. The wayside soil, and the good soil that bore 30, 60, or 100-fold, will be mentioned only briefly, and left until the next time I preach on the parable.
   
2. The two soils in between them seem to have application to many Christians today,
   
3. The greatest emphasis in our lesson will be on the Thorny Ground.
   

TEXT: Luke 8:11-15 "Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance."

LESSON--

1. I hope that there are none present today who identify with the first soil..... who never take the word in, and forget all they have heard.
   
2. I sincerely hope that there are those present today who are represented by the good soil, who receive the word into a good and honest heart, and produce.
   
3. I am more concerned with those who are like the other two soils.
   
   1. There may be those present who "receive the word with joy," but do not give it deep root, so as to resist temptation and trial when it comes.
      
      1. We describe people like this as "superficial." They receive the message emotionally rather than letting it become rooted in their being. See Colossians 2:6-7 "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."
         
      2. The rootless person reveals his shallowness in lack of interest in truth.
         
      3. There is a measure of root each person needs to keep him from falling to temptation, or to bring him back from sin when he is tempted.
         
   2. The other soil presents the problem that is most prevalent in this life. The thorns and weeds of our lives choke the word, so that no fruit is borne.
      
      1. The weeds that choke the word are described with various words.
         
         1. Matthew 13:22
            
            1. The care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches. (ASV, KJ)
               
            2. Worldly cares, and deceitful riches. (LO)
               
            3. The anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches. (YLT)
               
            4. The worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth. (NASB)
               
         2. MARK 4:19 Expands the phrase to include a third element.
            
            1. The cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in. (ASV, KJV)
               
            2. The cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in. (NKJV)
               
            3. Worldly cares, and delusive riches, and the inordinate desire of other things. (LO)
               
         3. Luke 8:14 adds "pleasures," based on the Greek word 'hdone, from which we get our word "hedonism," suggesting self-indulgence.
            
            1. They are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life (ASV, KJV)
               
            2. They are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life. (NASB)
               
            3. Who are entangled in the business, and pursuits, and pleasures of life. (LO)
               
      2. Let us examine these three "weeds" to learn how they choke the word.
         
4. Cares, Worries, Anxieties.
   
   1. To begin with this, Christians need to heed the Word which says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
      
      1. Jesus taught this in Matthew 6:31-33 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
         
      2. This tells us that concern for the necessities of life is unnecessary, but we are told to provide for ourselves.
         
         1. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread."
            
         2. Paul used his own example in this. Acts 20:34 "You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own necessities and to the men who were with me."
            
         3. We are to provide not only for ourselves, but for families. 1 Timo-thy 5:4, 8 "If any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God........ 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
            
   2. The cares and anxieites which choke the fruitfulness of the Christian, and which Christ spoke against in the Parable of the Sower, are those beyond the necessities of life.
      
      1. Americans are plagued with "things".....things beyond necessities.
         
      2. Our affluence causes us to treat unnecessary things as necessary.
         
      3. A good exercise for us would be to list the things which cause us anxiety, and either to eliminate the things, or eliminate the worries.
         
5. Delusions regarding riches (or, pursuit of deceitful riches).
   
   1. Many Americans are rich by fortunate accidents, or by timely invention. These are given a charge of good stewardship. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."
      
   2. Others pursue riches to their own hurt. 1 Timothy 6:9-10 "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
      
   3. Two spiritual solutions bracket this passage.
      
      1. Before---a lecture on contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 "But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content."
         
      2. After---a more profitable pursuit is recommended. 1 Timothy 6:11 "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness."
         
   4. From this combination of passages, we learn that riches are not inherently evil, but the pursuit of tangible riches, to the neglect of spiritual riches, will choke the fruitfulness of the Christian.
      
6. The pleasures of this life.
   
   1. The pleasurable nature of certain sinful worldly activities is evident.
      
      1. Hebrews 11:25 "(Moses was) choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin."
         
      2. 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (For those who do not love the truth) "God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."
         
      3. The Bible speaks of pleasure in sexual activity, whether lawful or not.
         
   2. Riches enable people to enhance their pleasure.
      
      1. Luke 16:19 "Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day."
         
      2. James 5:1, 5 "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you......5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter."
         
      3. But the Wise Man said, "He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich." Proverbs 21:17
         
   3. However, there are righteous pleasures, also.
      
      1. There are the pleasures of youth, but these must be viewed with soberness. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12.1 "Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things. 10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. 1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no pleasure in them.'"
         
      2. There are pleasures in enterprise, but these must also be faced realistically. Ecclesiastes 2:1, 4-6, 10-11 "I said to myself, 'Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself.' And behold, it too was futility......4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vine-yards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.....10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my re ward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun."
         
      3. Yet, Paul could find pleasure in things which served his spiritual endeavors. 2 Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
         
      4. Christians need to examine the worthiness of the pleasures they participate in. Pleasures of the wrong kind can choke the word.

APPLICATION-- Priority must be given to Christian pursuits in our lives.