The Latest PMI News

What kind of a farmer are you?

Is it just me or are we witnessing an alarming number of people who might be characterized as “strong believers” suddenly appearing to take leave of their senses and do incredibly strange things? (OK…I’m being kind by using the word “strange”)  Do you know of a Christian spouse or dedicated church worker suddenly leaving what appeared to be a long, successful marriage for another person?   Or a devoted believer who one day decides to live a life that pleases the flesh but is quite contrary to the things of the Lord?  A few weeks ago I asked the Lord about this craziness!  “Lord, how can someone love and serve You for years only to, one day, just start living a completely different lifestyle that often violates the very Bible they’ve always taught and defended?” 

I really thought this was just a simple matter of obedience or lack of it!  The next morning during my prayer time I was prompted to read “The Parable of the Sower” found in Matthew 13.  Here I began to realize that this change doesn’t happen overnight.  It has to do with the condition of our heart.  Jesus talks of our heart as being soil.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.   Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.   As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.   Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear."  Matthew 13:1-9 – NIV

He who has an ear, let him hear!  Listen with your heart & spirit; consider it and apply it!

For most of my life I have heard this passage taught regarding salvation – as we go about spreading the gospel, some will hear it, some receive it, etc.  But I want to look at this a bit differently this morning.  I believe this is also written for each of us and our current walk with the Lord.  What is the condition of the soil in our heart?  I grew up in farm country and farmed with good friends for a few years!  In this passage of scripture, Jesus Himself is talking about 4 kinds of ground.  Let’s quickly look at each of these:

4 kinds of ground:

·         Wayside – this is the ground usually along side of a path or road.  It is often stepped on or driven on so it is usually hard, compacted and pressed down.   Seed falls on it but can’t penetrate.  While it lies there, it is exposed to the elements.  It’s lying in plain sight for the birds to come eat it up.

·         Stony – this soil has many rocks and little dirt.  The seed can get down into the dirt and begin to grow but the roots have very little room to grow.  Too many hard things in the way.  The roots try to grow down but run into more rocks so they have little depth.  When the sun grows hot, it scorches the plant and without the needed root system, the plant withers and dies.

·         Thorns – this soil is full of thorns and weeds.  These plants compete with the nutrients in the soil, block the needed sunlight from the plant and crowd out the plants – chocking them and stunting their growth.  Many thorns are like vines that wrap around and cover plants to take over.  They steal the light and nutrients causing the crops to be stunted and unfruitful.

·         Good soil – Good soil rarely just happens!  It takes work and time.  While soil may be fertile, it requires continual work to keep it at an optimum level.   Just ask any gardener…weeds love fertile soil!  It requires work - plowing, disking, keeping the weeds out, fertilizing it, etc.   Rocks and weeds are removed continuously!  With good soil and no weeds to compete with, plants can grow and produce a harvest 30 fold, 60 fold or 100 fold.  Fold is another way of saying 30 times bigger, 60 or even a 100 times bigger than what was originally planted.  A farmer can take a large sack of seed and plant it only to harvest truckloads of product!  Now that’s what it’s all about!

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

                                                                                                                                Matt 13:18-23  NIV

Now let’s compare the 4 kinds of ground to the 4 kinds of ground in our Hearts:

·         Wayside – this is the ground usually along side of a path or road.  It is often stepped on or driven on so it is usually hard, compacted and pressed down.   Seed falls on it but can’t penetrate.  While it lies there, it is exposed to the elements.  It’s lying in plain sight for the birds to come eat it up.

This person’s heart is hard and compacted.  He is closed minded and not open to instruction or to even consider the Word.   He is extremely stubborn and set in his way.  Why should he listen to the Word from someone else?  He already knows what it means to him!  Why should he read the Word for himself?  He knows what it says! (or so he thinks!)  One can share for hours about God’s truths but there is no understanding with this person!  It is easy for the enemy to take the Word away from this person and he doesn’t even realize it! He quickly forgets!  The Word never penetrates his heart and there is no consideration of the Word!  Statistically, some of our readers may have wayside soil and this article is definitely not about you, however, you know several others who really need to read this!!! J

·         Stony – this soil has many rocks and little dirt.  The seed can get down into the dirt and begin to grow but the roots have very little room to grow.  Too many hard things in the way.  The roots try to grow down but run into more rocks so they have little depth.  When the sun grows hot, it scorches the plant and without the needed root system, the plant withers and dies.

This person hears the Word and likes it but never commits to study or grow.   The word used in this indicates a hardening – metaphorically of dulled spiritual perception.  Blindness.  There is no follow through!  Growth is stopped before it changes his heart.  If there is change, it doesn’t last long!  He does not spend consistent time in the Word learning what it says and why he should obey it!  No meditation and follow up on teachings.  There is no application of the Word to his life.  It’s a step up from the wayside soil in that the seed penetrates and begins to grow, but little comes of it. 

·         Thorns – this soil is full of thorns and weeds.  These plants compete with the nutrients in the soil, block the needed sunlight from the plant and crowd out the plants – chocking them and stunting their growth.  Many thorns are like vines that wrap around and cover plants to take over.  They steal the light and nutrients causing the crops to be stunted and unfruitful.

This person hears the Word.   He listens and wants to apply what is learned however, the cares of this world – job; clothing; home; work; play; anxieties; etc. – they distract him.  His focus is on making a living or having fun or being successful.  The deceitfulness of riches – focus is on getting money and more money.  The priority is on everything else but God.  For this person, his activities, business, recreation and cares of this world choke out the Word in his life.  His ground bears little or no fruit.  This person not only deals with the cares of this world, but when tribulations come…thorns hurt!  He has no stomach for the pain and hard times.  It’s easier to do something more enjoyable!  What the Word asks causes too much discomfort and pain!

·         Good soil – Good soil rarely just happens!  It takes work and time.  While soil may be fertile, it requires continual work to keep it at an optimum level.  (Weeds love fertile soil!)  Plowing, disking, keeping the weeds out, fertilizing it, etc.   Rocks and weeds are removed continuously!  With good soil and no weeds to compete with, these plants can grow and produce a harvest 30 fold, 60 fold or 100 fold.  Fold is another way of saying 30 times bigger, 60 or even a100 times bigger than what was originally planted.   This farmer can take a large sack of seed and plant it only to harvest truckloads of product! 

This person has cultivated a relationship with Jesus Christ.  He doesn’t find time but rather makes time to be in the Word.  It requires constant work and time!  When a farmer plows, the blade cuts down into the dirt and turns it upside down.  This person experiences hard times that turn his world upside down!  The disk cuts up the dirt.  It is worked into fine dirt and fertilized.  Fertilizer stinks!  It doesn’t matter if it is natural or chemical!  Eventually the soil in our hearts becomes fertile!  He will read, study and meditate on the Word.  He understands the Word and most importantly, he obeys the Word even through the painful times!  Ultimately, this person bears much fruit – 30, 60 or 100 times!

So, what kind of soil do you have?  When you take a realistic look at your life, do you see fruitfulness (the kind Christ looks for in touching lives) that is 30, 60 or 100 times as much as you’ve invested?  If not, then what type of soil do you have in your heart?

I have good news and some “not so good” news!  If your soil is less than desirable, the good news is that soil can be worked, rocks removed and it can become good soil.  It takes work, dedication, commitment and time spent with the Lord and in His Word.  You must continually keep the soil of your heart weeded and the rocks out!  That’s great news!  The “not so good” news pertains to those who already have good soil.  The temptation here is often to rest, relax and enjoy!  But we must continually be on guard to keep this soil good.  Make every effort to keep the soil of your heart good and don’t become weary!  Good soil can quickly become full of weeds and thorns!

We are living in some pretty difficult times and it is more important than ever to keep working the soil of our hearts!  Those with good soil will more easily be able to live a successful life for the King of Kings!  The crops in our lives will be healthy and better able to resist the disease of sin.  One of the best defenses against becoming “one of those Christians who walk away from the Word and do strange things” is to keep your soil cultivated and your relationship with Jesus fresh and exciting!

Farming for Jesus!

Dave Rogers