I’d heard the parable of the sower about a million times. I knew it backwards. Jesus was talking about evangelism and people becoming Christians. You know, saying the sinner’s prayer and getting saved by putting your trust in him.
You see, the seeds on the path, the ones that got eaten by the birds, those were the people who doubted; the devil had tricked them into not believing anymore.
The seeds on the rocks that couldn’t take root and got scorched by the sun, they were the people who never went to church. I mean, how can you expect to stay saved and fully believing if you don’t get the right teaching and encouragement? When your friends make fun of you you’re bound to back out quickly if you haven’t got the right support.
But those seeds among the thorns, I never really understood them. Why would the worries of life and wealth stop you believing? Well, anyway, I didn’t really need to worry about that because I was one of the seeds that fell on good soil. And I was going to convert loads of people to believe in Jesus too, producing a crop yielding hundreds.
But then, on the bus the other day I read the parable again. And something struck me that I’d never seen before. Jesus actually said that the parable was about receiving the message of the Kingdom of God and not about becoming a Christian.
Then I began to think about this Kingdom, about being a peacemaker, loving my neighbour (especially the uncomfortable ones), saying no to violence and turning the other cheek, going the extra mile, thirsting for justice, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and caring for creation.
The problem is that I find these things difficult. I’m very busy, not much free time since leaving university. And I’ve just bought a house; most of my money goes on paying the mortgage and doing it up. And then I realised. Far from producing a crop yielding hundreds I’d actually fallen amongst the thorns.
