Choking The Word of God

In Mark 4:1-20, we find the parable of the sower who sows the Gospel message (Word of God) and the different responses and effects of the Word on the hearts and lives of those who hear it. Yet, I would like to focus only on one of the results which we find in verses 7,18-19.

v. 7 - "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain."
v. 18-19 - " Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ 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.


Let us first look at the worries of life. How can the worries of life choke the Word of God in our lives?
Worries will cause us to look at our problems which in turn will cause us to lose our focus on God. The end results are: less time in God's Word and meaningful prayer, our faith and hope in God is choked, our strength is sapped.

Secondly, let us look at the deceitfulness of wealth. The desire to have more money and things often distract us from spending time in church and our personal devotional life. Also, those who allow this to dominate them will often ignore certain truths in God's Word in order to obtain these things. Often they will put things above relationships. If your primary goal is the pursuit of things, it will lead to worry and have a negative impact our spiritual lives.

Thirdly, the desire for other things. I put this separate from deceitfulness of wealth because it encompasses more than this. It includes the desire to obtain status, position, honor and to be in control. The scripture says that He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. If these things reign in our hearts it will choke the spiritual life out of us. It will cause us to compromise God's Word to obtain them. Also, it is a desire for ungodly and unhealthy relationships, which will stifle the Word of God in us and cause us to do things contrary to God's Word.

When we allow these things to wrap around our heart, it will choke Jesus, the Word of God in our lives. We will not bear much fruit or any fruit. These things stifle hope, faith and love which are the only things of lasting value.