What Kind of Soil Are You?

In Matthew 13, we find the Parable of the Sower. And while most Bibles call it that, I prefer to call it the Parable of the Soils. Why?...because the parable is truly focused on the types of soils that the seed encounters. We have a sower, we have seed and we have various types of soil.

Jesus uses parables to convey ideas in terms that help people to relate to His message. In this case, He is speaking to people that understand agriculture and so He talks about seeds and soils. He tells them the parable… “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

The four soil types… 1. The hard packed earth of the path 2. Rocky soil. 3. Thorny soil and 4. Good soil. What’s the point Jesus is trying to make? First, that we are all one of these soil types. Maybe we change from time to time, but consistently, day by day, we fall into one of these categories. The sower does his job, he spreads the seed around. The seed does its’ job, it is planted and has the power within it to grow. Really, the only variable in the equation is the soil. The end result is a function of the type of soil; not the ability of the sower or the quality of the seed.

For those that have hearts that are hardened, the seed cannot penetrate and it quickly disappears. The seed that is sown has no chance to grow and it is disposed of immediately. For those that are shallow, the seed might well take hold and spring up quickly, but the depth is not there and soon the plant withers and dies. For those that care more about the world than spiritual matters, it doesn’t take long for work or play to get in the way of the really important things. But there are some, a few, who are good soil. For them, the word of God penetrates and grows and changes who they are and whose they are. We have all seen people like that. We have all admired those that truly allow God to rule in their lives.

Jesus tells us that some will never give God a chance, while others will accept Him, but quickly fall away. The seed is planted and grows, but life gets in the way and one day they just disappear from our churches. Were they never really saved? Jesus says they were. He says the seed was planted, the plant began to grow, but then they "fell away"… listen to Jesus explanation of the parable… “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

You see, the question isn't about the seed or the sower… the real question is what kind of soil am I? What kind of soil are you? The answer to that question has eternal consequences. While this parable deals specifically with a person becoming a Christian, it can be applied to our willingness to hear His word and make changes throughout our lives. Can we change? Sure. The farmer calls it cultivation. The soil has to be worked. Things have to come out and other things have to go in. Weeds have to be pulled and stones have to be removed. It takes effort! But the first thing it takes is recognition of the type of soil you are now. Does God’s Word penetrate your heart and make changes in you? Do you go away on Sunday morning fired up and ready to go, but on Monday you can’t remember what you heard? Are you more focused on worldly success than kingdom success? Take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions. Eternity depends on the answers.