“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22).
We see the seed in this case, which gets planted and grows. Unlike the footpath, the soil is soft, and unlike the shallow soil,
there is no rock beneath it, so the seed's roots can grow deep into the ground to stay anchored. However, the problem now is that, while it's growing, it is growing next to a thorny plant, which prevents it from growing any further.
The thorns symbolise the worries of this life or the lure of wealth. They make us aware that even as we grow and journey with God, we still live in the world. That we still have to get
an education, get a job, earn money, take care of our children, pay the bills, be a good friend, be a good parent and love the people around us. This is the reality that we all have to face in the society we live in.
There is nothing wrong with reality; the problem lies when we let the realities of our lives stop us from growing spiritually with God. The key words are ‘worries’ and lure’. Our focus moves away from God, and
the treasure of our hearts now lies in the things of this world rather than in God, ultimately keeping us from being fruitful.
We become like the fig tree that grows and bears leaves but no sign of fruit.
What worries in my life are shifting my focus from God?
What realities of my life are overshadowing
my spiritual growth?
Am I able to bear fruit?
