Farming Your Seeds

 

By: Paula Short

"Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn't have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Then he said, "Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." Mark 4:.-9— NLT

In Mark 4:3-9, Jesus begins the parable of the sower. In this parable, Jesus uses the metaphor of a farmer sowing seed to represent the spreading of the gospel. 

The different soil types represent the contrasting ways people respond to the gospel. 

The seed that falls on the path depicts those who hear the gospel but don't understand it. 

The seed that falls on rocky ground depicts those who hear and believe the gospel, but their faith is shallow, and they do not persevere. 

The seed that falls among thorns depicts those who hear and believe the gospel, but their faith is choked out by the cares of this world. 

The seed that falls on good soil depicts those who hear and believe the gospel, and their faith produces fruit.

Jesus' parable of the sower teaches us that not everyone who hears the gospel will respond to it similarly. Some people will not understand it, some will believe it but not persevere, and some will believe it, and their faith will produce fruit. 

We should not be discouraged if not everyone we share the gospel with responds in the way we hope. We should continue to share the gospel, knowing that God is the one who ultimately brings people to faith.

Here is a more detailed explanation of the different types of soil in the parable:

• Path: The path represents those who hear the gospel but do not understand it. The birds represent Satan, who comes to steal the word of God from their hearts.
• Rocky ground: The rocky ground represents those who hear and believe the gospel, but their faith is shallow and does not persevere. The sun represents persecution and trials, which cause their faith to wither.
• Thorns: The thorns represent the cares of this world, which choke out the word of God and prevent it from producing fruit.
• Good soil: The good soil represents those who hear and believe the gospel, and their faith produces fruit. The fruit represents the good works that are produced by faith.

Reflection

The parable of the sower is a reminder that spreading the gospel is not always easy. There will be people who do not understand it, people who believe it but do not persevere, and people who are choked out by the cares of this world. But we should not be discouraged. We should continue to share the gospel, knowing that God is the one who ultimately brings people to faith.