The topic that I am introducing is from Mark 4: 1-9. in the Bible.

The Parable of the Sower

This parable really shows me how human nature is often involved, with how we maintain our faith in God. When times are good in life, some people forget God as all their earthly needs seem to be provided.

This parable explains how some people

(A) are like the seeds that fall on a path, the birds then come and eat up the seeds. These people travel through life without any real purpose and direction with their faith.

(B) are like the seed that fall on the rocky ground. the seed soon sprout but are burnt by the hot sun.The roots are not deep enough to withstand the heat form sun. These people show interest in their faith in God, but do not nourish their faith in God's Word, so they soon fall away from their Christian faith.

(C) are like seeds that fall amongst the thorn bushes,which grow up and then choke the plants, so the plants do not produce any corn. You may be able to assist me with the explanation of this section of the parable. I think it means that people wander away from their faith in God, when their faith is tested by non-believers and it becomes to difficult to maintain their faith in God????

(D) are like the seeds that fall on good soil and the plants sprout and grow.The plants produce much corn. These people maintain their faith through life's troubles, so will be rewarded by the promise of eternal life in heaven...

This is how I interpret this parable. You may understand this parable differently? Is it just human nature, that some people wander away from their faith in God, when times are good, and then return to their faith, when life's troubles become unbearable?

Your comments are welcome.

Life49

I know of a married couple who have 'walked' away from their faith in God sad to say.

I've been told the husband told it was 'too hard'

Jesus is not a hard task master, quite the opposite

Matthew 11 v 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

tells us so.

I was in conversation with the wife last year, and she practically denounced Christ with her speech, she said she didn't believe the Bible, and many more things. To tell the truth I had to leave her company I couldn't bear to listen.

If you read further in Mark 4, you'll see that Jesus explains the parable to His disciples in detail. The passage you refer to (Mk 4:7) is explained in vv18-19. Verse 19 says that "the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."


SLE

More than likely this couple was yoked with religion rather than a relationship with Jesus. Jesus says an encounter with Himself leaves one broken or ground into pieces, so if there is no humbling, the experience is one of carnal religion or possibly demonic. Religion usually makes all kinds of promises about one's future without any real authority leaving one with nothing more than a religious fantasy rather than spiritual reality. One of the most common fruits of religion is severe disappointment. This is probably where this couple is now, trying to move on from their disappointment and searching again for fulfillment.

I agree with Jiggyfly: this couple probably were encased in carnal religion. But, we need to separate "true religion" from carnal religion. Carnal religion emphasizes ritual and rule keeping and only gives lip service to the saving work of the Lord Jesus. Carnal religion has no positive impact on peoples' lives.

True religion, on the other hand, is gathering in group settings to worship God, learn about Him, and going out to do the stuff that Jesus did - feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, heal the sick, and most imporantly, draw people to the Father through Him. True religion is tremendously fulfilling and exciting. Billy Sunday was referring to carnal religion when he said, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to your garage makes you a car."

SLE

I agree with jiggyfly and SpiritLedEd.

Sadly it sounds like this couple were never truly saved...poor empty souls with no foundation in Christ.

For true Christians who turn away it is very different in my experience.

For me as a Christian who backslid into the world for some 9 years there was never any real enjoyment in sinning and 'being choked by the world'. As a fruitless Christian my spiritual growth was stunted by wordliness and sin.

but....

I continually experienced a little voice within my heart gently whispering that I belonged to the Lord and flooding my mind with hymns and scriptures. For all my wayward behaviour ,the world and its thorns couldn't consume me because I was redeemed by His precious blood. Proud and stubborn as I was the Lord would never let me go. He just gently tugged on the reins of my heart until I humbled myself and returned thankfully back to Him.

Praise God that our Salvation is for eternity and no matter how far we stray He is always there.

Maureen I will pray for the couple you mention, that seeds sown will lead to true salvation (or a return to the Lord if they are backslidden)

Julia

Thanks brothers and sisters in Jesus.

I think Jiggfly is right in the words he wrote.
It seems very strange to me that first the wife fell away and he followed straight away.
To me that is obvious Jesus isn't the one doing the 'keeping' there.

It's sad too, because the husband has taken up drinking again, and when drunk gives the wife a hard time, she told me she wasn't happy being a Christian, but she also said she wasn't happy in the world either.
She said it pained her that her family wouldn't get saved, that spoilt her joy.
That is of the devil, as I went through that also, but I learned through Christ who strengthened me not to let him steal my joy, I can still feel sad for them without it stealing my own joy now.
I would not have let that take me from Jesus though, I had to hold on tighter.
Guess it depends on how much of a grip you have or want.

Thanks Julia
I have not been in their company for a long time, I have a letter for them touching on some things trying to help them, but I have not been able to post it as yet, it just doesn't seem to be the right time, the Lord will let me know when it is.

I do believe the above words 'desires for other things' is what chokes the word my husband hears each week and keeps him from accepting Christ.

Maureen

Your testimony of our dear Lord's saving grace will be sowing precious seeds in your husbands heart.

I will be praying that the Lord Himself will do the weeding in your husbands heart to remove those wordly desires that the good seed my grow and reap salvation.

God bless you sister

Julia

Thank you Julia
for your words of encouragement, how I've heard lately that it is good to 'encourage' bothers and sisters in the Lord.

Sometimes I can think I'm doing nothing toward steering Evan (husband) to Jesus, but I must remind myself I am not at the helm, Jesus is.
He can identify through me who it is my first love is, and how much love I have for Jesus, the rest is in the Lord's hands and timing.

His heart has many weeds but then so did mine, if I can be reached without being churched even, anyone can, nothing is impossible for our God.