From Seed to Fruit

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talked about the seed sown among the thorns. These are people who hear the Word of God, but the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19). In this parable Jesus is comparing different types of soil. The Word of God fell onto four different kinds of soil, but only the seed planted in good soil produced fruit. The desired goal is not just for the Word to go out, but for it to produce fruit in the lives of people. If the soil is not properly prepared, the preaching of the Word will not produce fruit.

In looking at the seed sown among the thorns, I think the "deceitfulness of riches" is more than just a caution to not worship riches or wealth. I think there is a deceit that blinds peoples minds about how to be fruitful. You could say, the deceitfulness of how to obtain riches--true riches. There are true riches in God's kingdom. There is fruit that He desires for us to produce. The purpose of the Word going out into the hearts of men is not for it to accomplish nothing! It's for it to produce fruit. He said His Word does not return to Him empty without accomplishing what it was sent to do. (Isaiah 55:11). God wants us to be fruitful! This was the original command to Adam and Eve, and then again to Noah.

What exactly does it mean to be fruitful? I sometimes think Christians don't appreciate the value of having fruit in their own life. We get hung up, probably because of a guilt or works motivation, on trying to do so much so other people are fruitful that we miss a very important point. In order to see what we typically think is fruit--other people getting saved, healed, delivered, taught and sent out into their purpose and call--the seed must first be planted in their life like it was in ours right? So where do you get the seed to give to others? From your own fruit. If you don't have fruit growing in your life, you won't have seed to sow. This fruit that first grows in your life will produce the seed to plant in others. This means that as you experience the fullness of the salvation that Jesus provided for you, you will be able to pass it on to others. The salvation, healing, deliverance, peace, joy and victory that you receive from your faith in Him, from the preparation of your heart to receive His Word, will produce fruit which carries within it seed that others may benefit from.

God's kingdom is a garden. The key is the seed. Seed takes time to grow. Sometimes God will do things miraculously and instantly and that's awesome, but apart from that, the kingdom of heaven operates on this principle of seedtime and harvest. The "Word" seeds that were planted in your heart will produce fruit if you've properly prepared the soil of your heart. Your life will be fruitful. Your life's meaning and purpose will become clear. And you will produce plenty of fruit to not only maintain the joy of your salvation, but to sow into the lives of others so they too can become fruitful. Don't neglect cultivating fruit in your own life. Take time with the Lord, wait on Him, receive from Him. Fruit does not struggle to grow, and neither will yours.