Finding Good Soil

Sometimes we need to hear the negatives to understand the positives.

But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. - Matthew 13:23

In the parable of the sower, we hear about all the ways the word of God is sown in the hearts of men (and women).  While most produce little results or change that lasts but a little while, only the seeds that fall on good soil produce much fruit.

This is the positive statement that alone has less impact on us than when it is heard after all the failures.  To yield fruit in this life, therefore, we may need to experience or at least witness failure before we succeed.

This is surely true for anyone who tries to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Most do not care to hear it, either because they feel they already know and do not want to be reminded, or because they do not believe and have no interest.

So, what is the lesson here?  Do we only talk to those who are eager and willing to hear?  Or do we need to be even more diligent and make sure the person we talk to is "good soil"?

I don't believe we are adept at finding good soil.  We have far too little knowledge of others to be able to tell if they will produce or not.

The parable of the sower appears at first to be a story about a gardener who doesn't care whether the seeds he tosses about will have a chance to sprout and grow or not.  He casts them everywhere.  But that has positive implications.

Perhaps we shouldn't worry about the outcome when we set out to do God's work.  We should just get out there and do it.

It is up to the soil to receive and support the word of God.

That certainly makes it easier on us, but it also means we have no excuses.

If we let the spirit guide us, and we believe what we say, some good will come out of it.

Unfortunately, we tend to judge the potential for a good outcome before we try, and that lessens the chances of being fruitful.

So, what will you do today?

Go.  It's planting time.

More to come...