“And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” 

                                                                                                                     Mark 4:18-19 

Response #3: The Person Who Pursues Worldly Things

If there is a sure way to choke out the benefits of the gospel, it is to be distracted and conflicted when it comes to the things of the world. Jesus’ description of these people reveals three things that cause the word to be “choked out.”

First, these people have heard the word but they are consumed with worries. Jesus teaches us that we are not to worry about these things. Consider the following:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

                                                                                                            Matthew 6:25-27 

As believers, we are assured that God will provide for our needs. While the world reacts to the ebb and flow of international markets and events around the world, followers of Jesus can take refuge in the fact that He will always provide. Jesus goes on to say:

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

                                                                                                                 Matthew 6:33

Secondly, these people are enticed by the deceitfulness of riches. The pursuit of wealth causes the truth of the gospel to be choked. Again, Jesus instructs us on attempting to serve God and pursue earthly riches simultaneously:

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 

                                                                                                               Matthew 6:24

We have to make a choice for it is impossible for us to wholeheartedly serve God and to spend all of our time and effort acquiring earthly wealth. Jesus reminds us of the futility of having “everything” on earth, yet being spiritually bankrupt:

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 

                                                                                                                     Luke 9:25

Finally, these people are distracted and enticed by the things of the world. As believers, we live in the world but reject the world system that is born out of a desire to live life on our own terms. Consider the following:

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

                                                                                                                   1 John 2:15-17

Conventional wisdom tells us to pursue everything available to us in this world. God’s word warns us against that mindset. If we declare our affection for the world we are, in effect, claiming that the love of God does not reside in us. All of the enticements of the world do not come from God rather are of the world. The people described in the parable have heard the gospel but have chosen to pursue the world rather than pursue Christ.

Response: #4: The Person Who Receives The Gospel And Is Highly Effective  

“And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

                                                                                                                     Mark 4:20 

The final person described in the parable is the one who hears the gospel, receives it, and lives a victorious and effective life for Jesus. This effectiveness comes in the form of “bearing fruit.” Jesus tells us that just like a branch being attached to a healthy vine, abiding in Him results in the bearing of fruit. The fruit comes through the branches, but it is the vine that causes the branch to bear its fruit. Consider the following:

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

                                                                                                                    John 15:5

Likewise, if we live by the power of the Holy Spirit within us we will see fruit emerge in our lives. Paul put it like this:

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

                                                                                                         Galatians 5:22-24

When we live in the power of the gospel, we see the result of God’s Spirit within us. Just like abiding in Jesus allows us to bear fruit, abiding in the Spirit brings powerful results that the world will notice. We trade the passions ad desires of the world for the evidences of Christ in our lives.

Finally, those that hear the gospel and receive it by believing, they will see the power of God flow freely out of their lives. Listen to the words of Jesus: 

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 

                                                                                                                   John 7:37-38

Whoever is spiritually thirsty can come to Christ and when we do, the benefit is that “rivers of living water” will flow out of our lives. It should be obvious from the four descriptions given in the parable that we should desire to be counted among those in the last group. Hearing the good news, accepting the good news, and living in the power of the good news. That is what will produce the rivers of living water to flow from our lives. So what are we waiting for? Let’s live in that power and go get some people wet!