They are choked by ... riches and pleasures ...

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And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

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Most of us are familiar with the parable of the sower and the seed but if you are not you can read it in Luke 8:4-15. Today I would like to consider the seed that "fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it". The weedy soil seems different than the first two because there seems to be fruit - albeit immature fruit.

When some think about the idea of fruit in a person's life they often examine the outward successes and failures. Some might consider wealth a fruit of hard work - even though some of the hardest workers are poor. Others look at a person's children and judge whether their parenting fruit is good or bad - like the children are robotic inventions.

In contrast, the Lord tells us that riches and pleasures actually choke and inhibit our spiritual growth and maturity. In truth, wealth is often a spiritual thorn that causes us to trust it instead of the Lord - and when we trust it we become filled with cares and worry. Yet when we, with all of our heart, trust God, we grow in grace and experience peace.

Capture my heart once again dear lover of my soul. I confess my trust in you and your plan for my life.

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