Articles
Good But Barren
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"Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. " (Lk. 8:14)
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In His parable of the Sower, Jesus explained why the gospel often does not accomplish its intended purpose. The defect is not in the message, but in the hearts of the hearers. Some simply have no interest at all in spiritual matters; they reject it outright. Others get excited about it for awhile, but their ardor soon cools and they drift away.
Our attention here is drawn to a third category: Those who embrace the gospel and at some level remain faithful to it, but they never accomplish anything with it. They "bring no fruit to maturity."
These disciples live a decent life, avoiding the more notorious sins of the flesh and contributing their share to a civil society. They wear the "Christian" label proudly, confident of their connection with God. They even show up regularly at church--when it's convenient.
But as far as kingdom priorities are concerned, they're MIA. They are so busy with their careers, hobbies, investments, vacations, houses, entertainments, and so on, that they have no time for the real work that the Master has called them to do: Encouraging the weak, visiting the sick, helping the poor, teaching the lost, comforting the hopeless, confronting the evil. These are the duties that make a real difference in this world; yet when opportunities arise to pursue any of these tasks, these disciples are nowhere to be found. They are choked by the cares of this world, and can't be bothered.
Admittedly, there is no glamor in any of this work. It's not intended to be glamorous. It certainly wasn't for Jesus when He walked among us. It's the very messiness of this work that makes it so essential. Somebody needs to do it--and God has prepared a people who are committed to doing it. But these sunshine disciples choose to take a pass. They have "more important" things to do.
These disciples are not bad people. But they are practically useless in the great mission God has set before His people. If we call ourselves "Christian," we need to take a long, hard look at our personal priorities. We may be good, but are we fruitful?
Someday, God will judge us on that standard. Let's use our time accordingly.
--David
