Good Dirt

As I was working in my garden this evening, this parable came to mind. "Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn't have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." (Matthew 13:3-9)

I love that Jesus gave us His own interpretation with this one. (verses 18-23) The seed that falls on the footpath are people who hear the message of the Kingdom and don't understand it. The seed that was planted in their hearts is snatched away. The seed on the rocky soil represents people who hear and at once accept the message with joy, but they don't last long because they have no roots. As soon as trouble comes they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns represents those who hear God's word but the message is crowded out by the worries of life and the lure of wealth. The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand and produce a harvest.



My responsibility is to be good dirt. God is the sower, and He chooses what type of seed to plant in my life. He also causes the growth. (Colossians 2:19) Have you ever seen dirt struggling to grow a plant? No. It just receives what is planted, soaks up rain and sunshine, and the growth just happens. I am so encouraged today by this thought: my job is simple. Just be good dirt.



On Being Good Dirt:

Seek to truly understand to the best of my ability. Study.

Let the roots go deep. Don't turn and run when trouble comes (and it will).

Get rid of the weeds of worry. Trust. Faith is the confidence that what was planted is growing, even if it can't be seen on the surface yet.