- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 18,404
What's choking you?
'DESIRES FOR...THINGS...CHOKE THE WORD.' MARK 4:19
Surely none of you decent Christian youth-folk have ever seen those worldly films where the twisted, evil psycho-nut ends up strangling the poor innocent faced high school student. We can laugh at them, because we think how could you be so na?ve, you never go down to the cellar without a torch, it spells out certain death in a slasher flick. But the everyday worries of life can do just that to us. Strangle or choke us, and we're so na?ve about it. In the parable of the sower Jesus said, 'Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful' (Mark 4:18-19 NIV).
Get a good job; Get a nice house; fast car; holidays abroad; new wardrobe. All these things, though not bad in themselves, can end up choking us if we're not careful. The more you have, the more you have to lose, to protect, to maintain, to worry about. It's the deceitfulness of wealth. If you count your chips on anything other God, worry will choke the life right out of you.
True happiness lies in trusting God for what you need. Take your mind off your shopping list, turn your thoughts to God and watch the Word bear fruit in your life.
written by Bob Gass
'DESIRES FOR...THINGS...CHOKE THE WORD.' MARK 4:19
Surely none of you decent Christian youth-folk have ever seen those worldly films where the twisted, evil psycho-nut ends up strangling the poor innocent faced high school student. We can laugh at them, because we think how could you be so na?ve, you never go down to the cellar without a torch, it spells out certain death in a slasher flick. But the everyday worries of life can do just that to us. Strangle or choke us, and we're so na?ve about it. In the parable of the sower Jesus said, 'Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful' (Mark 4:18-19 NIV).
Get a good job; Get a nice house; fast car; holidays abroad; new wardrobe. All these things, though not bad in themselves, can end up choking us if we're not careful. The more you have, the more you have to lose, to protect, to maintain, to worry about. It's the deceitfulness of wealth. If you count your chips on anything other God, worry will choke the life right out of you.
True happiness lies in trusting God for what you need. Take your mind off your shopping list, turn your thoughts to God and watch the Word bear fruit in your life.
written by Bob Gass
