The Sower

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2mgahp

I have a friend who works with farmers to help them increase their harvest. They use GPS technology and computers on their farm equipment. It’s really a fascinating process.

They can analyze every foot of soil in the field and then customize how much fertilizer and seed to put down for that specific area. Their objective is to increase the yield for each crop.

Invariably there will be seeds that are sown that just don’t make it. But that number is far less than in years past. The technology they use focuses on two things. Increase the nutrients in the soil and make sure that the seed is sown in that good soil.

Jesus told a parable about a man who went to sow a field. The fields of that time were not like our fields today. You wouldn’t find fences to divide your property from someone else’s. Instead you would find a large open area with several paths dividing the separate plots of land. These pathways would become compacted as the farmers would walk from the edge of the field to their particular plot.

Another difference was that they would sow their seeds much like we might sow grass seed by casting or slinging it outward. This method of sowing seed isn’t the most efficient way. Many seeds would end up in places that were not the best place for a seed to grow. We find this parable in Mark 4:1-8, Luke 8:4-8 and this reading from Matthew 13:3-9.

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The seed is the same in all four cases and the same person is responsible for sowing the seed. But there are four different types of soil identified in this parable and four different outcomes for the seed.

Jesus explains this parable in verses 18-23.

“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

If you’ve ever sowed seed for flowers or for a garden you know that not every seed will germinate and not every seed will grow to maturity. Weeds, poor soil and birds all become enemies of that course. The process of improving the soil is ongoing.

The benefit of that process is to see those seeds placed in good soil. They germinate and grow until they provide the harvest or the beauty of their maturity.

As we spread the word of God to our community, preachers know that not every person who hears the message will be “good” soil. And just like the gardener, we want to constantly improve the soils around us. By removing the stones of disobedience and the thorns of temptation we stand a better chance of seeing that seed, the word of God, taking root and growing to maturity in more people.

All four types of listener’s hearts will be present in every community. Some people will be just too stubborn to change. But others will welcome the change of heart that allows the word of God to grow in their hearts.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we think about methods of improving the soils, or hearts, of others around us. May we envision a day when even the most hardened, thorny or stony hearts may be receptive to the wonderful word of God.

Our thought for the day: “The improvement of the mind improves the heart and corrects the understanding.” Agathon.

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.