SATAN'S TOOLS: FEAR AND RICHES

I am writing this post especially to those whose relationship to the Lord has been hindered by a fear of, or by the riches of the world.  In the Lord's Parable of the Sower, it is clear that the first of the four types of soil fails to "get the message" (Mt. 13:4 w/ 13:19).  It is also clear that the fourth type of soil receives the Gospel, and multiplies (Mt. 13:8-9 w/ 13:23).  But what about the other two?

Matthew 13:5-6 says, "Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away."  The explanation reads, "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" (Mt. 13:20-21).  These appear to be believers who, when faced with opposition, become silent out of fear.  Their lack of faith in God's ability to protect them results in their failure to "be fruitful and multiply."

Matthew 13:7 says, "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them."  Jesus explained these in Matthew 13:22, which says, "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."  Again, these "sprung up" meaning the "seed" produced life, but their focus was upon their own enjoyment of life rather than on those around them who needed to hear the Gospel.  The key here is that they "becometh unfruitful."  They had life, but produced no fruit.

I want to ask you who are reading this:  are you afraid to witness for Christ because you do not want to be ridiculed, rejected, or even worse, harmed?  The solution is to compare the Lord's Omnipotence to the impotence of the world!  God is greater than Satan and his minions!  Jesus said that He would always be with His disciples (Mt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5)!

To those of you who would rather spend your lives on trying to make for yourselves a heaven on earth, do you not realize that by so doing, you are failing to present the Gospel which offers an eternal heaven to those who do not know Christ?  Are you so selfish that you do not care churches all over the world need Sunday School teachers, outreach workers, evangelists, etc.?  Have you no gratitude for what Jesus has done for you, that you would waste your time in pursuit of riches rather than pursuing the lost?  Shame!

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: 

for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7)!