PUSH BUTTONS
WORD AND HEARTS
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. — Matthew 13:19–23 (NKJV)
Through this parable, Jesus revealed the categories of the human heart in its response to the word of God:
1. Wayside — the hard heart,
2. Rocky Soil — the shallow heart,
3. Soil with thorns — the crowded heart, and
4. The good soil — the fruitful heart.
Each type of soil or heart represents man’s readiness to receive God’s word. We are all culpable when it comes to accepting the Word; we have a choice of what to do with what we hear. Eventually, we are the ones who determine what kind of soil our hearts will be. This is exactly what James meant when he said,
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls — James 1:21 (NKJV)
The hearer can do one of four things with the biblical truth:
1. Reject it (The Hard Heart): This is someone who sits under the Teaching of God’s Word and it doesn’t get through to their heart. They’re simply there. It just bounces off their eardrums after striking them. They never heard the Word. They leave fully unchanged by the message, and it never gets through to them to the extent that it would have any impact or improvement on them.
In contrast, we see from i. the Eunuch and Philip (Acts 8:26–40) and ii. the two disciples who walked with Christ to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–35); that even though they lacked understanding, they were humble and willing to learn from Teachers, leading to their understanding of scripture.
2. Emotional without any conviction (The Shallow Heart) — the shallow heart geng fellow thinks because of the amazing truth in the Word that the wind, rain and storms shouldn’t come to evaluate it. They’re in shock that these factors even dare to come around. The truth is that these factors actually came for the word’s sake (Matthew 13:21), they came to evaluate his understanding of what he has been taught but because he has no root (p.s — roots absorb water and minerals, then transport them to stems. They also anchor and support a plant and store food), he stumbles.
Having roots helps to listen to a teaching/read a passage of scriptures and rightly divide it to see how it stands and aligns with the whole counsel of God. The root is what ensures that when (not if) persecution and tribulations come, we will still be standing. Rooting also talks about being established in a Location and not jumping from one place to another — you are traceable. Someone can account for you.
You would think Jesus has issues with people who receive the word with Joy. He DOESN’T. The challenge with this Category of hearers is in Matthew 13:21;
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. (NKJV)
The Thessalonians show a better model, they received the word with Joy despite tribulation:
So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. — 1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NLT)
3. Accepts it but cares of life choke (the crowded heart).
Wisdom is a defence, and Money is a defence (Ecclesiastes 7:12a). The Lord delights in the prosperity of his Servants (Psalm 35:27).
All over the scriptures, we see patriarchs of faith who did well financially, so having a sense of financial responsibility and quest for prosperity is in itself not a bad thing. However, the love of money has never led to anything good, and owing to its subtle nature it can come in undetected, appearing harmless (wolf in sheep’s clothing) with the sole purpose of throwing us off the faith lane.
Is it not interesting that Jesus said we can’t serve two masters — God and Mammon, just to reflect the influence Money can wield if our hearts are not well guarded? It isn’t only money we are talking about though — there is the WORLD and its CARES.
In the pursuit of money/a good life/happiness/progress…GOOD as they may be (because diligence is a non-negotiable expectation from a believer) — we must be careful to ensure that we are not defrauded/cheated/misguided to prioritize mammon above our commitment to GOD. Friends, pause, reflect, and evaluate what is the priority presently in your life.
4. Hears the word and takes action (the fruitful heart).
This category understands God’s word. The proof of understanding is how you exercise that which you understand. A man who understands the word understands the need to remain a consistent student of God’s word.
Your consistency in God’s word is directly proportional to your level of stability and fruitfulness in God’s vineyard.
It is no coincidence that even though the seed fell on good grounds, it didn’t produce the same rate across the board, some produced thirtyfold, others sixtyfold and others hundredfold.
Methinks that the reason for this is because of the richness of the soil content that the roots of the Seed-Word engaged with as it got into the soil. This would mean the productivity of the Word of God in man’s life is directly proportional to how renewed the heart of the recipient is.
Guess how you renew your mind? By remaining a faithful and consistent student of God’s word.
The Word of God is very powerful — it has inherent in it, the power to give understanding when it gains access to our hearts; IF it is given access to our hearts (Psalm 119:130).
If I were to summarise my write-up, it would be that the hearer who wants to bear fruit with God’s word has a responsibility to ensure that their heart is being renewed daily by remaining dedicated to knowing God’s word.
How about you? How would you summarise this post? Do share in the comment section. Have a Blessed Week!
Grace, Growth, and Glory.
Ayomide Arowele
IG/X: @thearowele
Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe.
