“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:22, 23)
The young lady had just finished rising up early to meet a friend so that together they could work out at the gym. Their objective had been reached for the morning and each went to their respective homes to face yet another busy and demanding day.
Upon her return home as she started to climb the steep stairs to her second floor workplace, she thought “these stairs right now look like the Great Wall of China” and she really wasn’t sure how she would climb them. Climb them she did! We can all identify with this young lady’s observation … as we view our own lives … with all of our commitments, obligations and schedules that might seem to have no empty slots for something else to do.
On most days, even when retired, all that needs to be done is just more than we can handle! So … whose fault is this? Sometimes we do have a lot to do. Sometimes we haven’t learned how to say no. Sometimes we somehow believe that being so busy is good for us.
Jesus talks about in our text “the cares of the world” and we must come to understand more clearly that among the “thorns that choke out the word of God” is busyness, being too busy to serve the Lord, to serve His people and to serve this dark world we live in with the light and salt of being God’s people! We must be seeking those lost that we can help save.
Would you just stop sometime this day and think about the fact that when we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up with life and living, we are giving place to a spiritual threat that if unaddressed puts our souls in a bad place! We must learn to prioritize our lives with its varied obligations and relationships. And that ladies and gentlemen is the challenge isn’t it?
We must take some time to reflect on how to truly relish in the joy that is to be ours in serving the Lord! We must learn to slow down for this will enable each of us to be less anxious, less impatient. Learning to slow down will help dispense with being so short and irritable with those around us, and to give no place to bitterness and resentment! Are you giving thought to these words? Please do and the Bible assures us that it will be worth the effort. Learn to make the Great Wall in life a place to enjoy rather than dread!
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, 16)
Bill Fairchild, Jr.
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