man planting a tree“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants…This…is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful”.

All his history, man has wrestled with the soil, with weeds and blight, storm and drought. A successful crop needs care and nurture.

As people we grow, and growth is a struggle.

Jesus used plant growth as an illustration – a life, he said, that gives too much importance to material things will not grow; it will very soon be stunted.

Helpful Bible references to consider

  • Jesus told a parable about a sower. In his story, the seed represents the good news about God’s Kingdom, planted in our minds by God.This seed may not take root in us at all – it may take root and then be swamped by everyday things – or it may flourish and produce the right response, the fruit that God is looking for.
    (Matt.13:1-23)
  • This process is under our control – we can let the ‘good news’ take root; we can encourage it to grow.

    The fruit it produces in a character like that of Jesus, a life modelled on his.
    (James 1:21-22; Gal.5:22-23; Phil.4:8)

  • One day the harvest will come – God will look for fruit from us.

    Unfruitful plants, thorns and weeds will be destroyed.
    (Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-8; Heb.6:7-8)

  • In a similar Old Testament parable, God’s people, the Jews, are represented as a vine or a fig tree.

    The prophets of Israel foretold a time when this nation, unfruitful and long uprooted from its land, would be replanted in the Holy Land, and ruled by a new king sitting on the throne of King David – Jesus Christ.
    (Isaiah 5:7; Joel 1:6-7; Jeremiah 31:27-28; Amos 9:14-15; Luke 1:31-33)

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