Distractions

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.  Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 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. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:11-15 NIV)

I have read the parable of the sower literally hundreds of times in my lifetime, but something stood out to me recently in Jesus’ explanation of the seed choked out by the thorns that I hadn’t grasped before—“they do not mature.” Matthew’s version of the parable says, “unfruitful.” I think it is his version that has been stuck in my brain all these years. They are in many ways the same, but that phrase, “they do not mature” resonated.

It has long been observed that Americans are a distracted people. We so often move our focus from one thing to another, having difficulty remaining fixed on one thing for very long. In American life, so many things compete for our attention. Could this be why the American Church, as a whole is immature and unfruitful? Could this be why you and I are less mature than we should be by this point in our lives because too many things distract us?

Note that Jesus says those whose lives are choked by distractions continue down the path.  We tend to think they just stop believing, but a careful reading of the text paints a different picture.  They continue to live as believers, just immature and unfruitful ones.  

Could this be the reason there are so many churches in America, but so few have any real impact on the lives of unbelievers?  Yes, many are active in their churches, but are people really maturing spiritually over the years?  Or are they just believers who lives are so choked with distractions, they have no time to devote themselves to the things that produce spiritual maturity, such as studying the Word, meditating, praying, having true fellowship, serving, etc.?

What about you? Are you maturing in your walk with Jesus?  Can you look back over the last several years and see increasing maturity or are you stuck in the same place you have been for awhile.  

Today, examine the distractions in your life.  What gets in the way of you growing in your relationship with Jesus?  Take the time to figure that out and then begin to remove them.  The Lord’s intent for us is to grow and mature over the course of our lives.  If that is not happening, then something needs to change.

© Jim Musser 2017