Matthew 13:22 “’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.’”
This is the parable of the sower, but the soil is the issue here. The seed is the Word of God, which is always good. It will produce fruit unless worry and materialism choke it out. Jesus’ teaching is to prepare the soil and plow the weeds under.
Principle: Bible knowledge alone will not prepare the Christian businessman to live the fruitful Christian life. Wisdom is needed.
The temptations that come with success are obvious. The tendency in good times is to take credit for the success and plunge into self-indulgent living. By the way, the worries of the world also include the worry successful people have that they will lose it, diminish it or that the success is really based on being an imposter and that they will be found out.
If God has granted success, enjoy it. Thank Him for it. Give Him the credit and do not waste it on stuff. In an article on “Life at the Top,” I saw some items that had been acquired at auction. They included a Patek Philippe wristwatch, which brought $ 1 million, a Ferrari that went for $1.2 million, a bottle of Rothchild wine which sold for $18,000, and on and on. What self-indulgence!
Failing faith in God during tough times is also a problem for Christian businessmen. The tendency in tough times is to edge God out of your decisions and revert to what used to work or do what the world says – cut corners. The result of both actions is fruitlessness.
All the Bible knowledge without the application of that Bible knowledge will not sustain a person in either life circumstance. The application of Bible knowledge to experience is called wisdom and will cause the person to bear fruit.
Fruit is used in a figurative way in this verse meaning virtues, such as the fruits of the Spirit. It also means good works springing from a righteous heart.
My friend Jack Sokolowski used to pray, “God keep me right in the middle between need and greed.” This was good insight from a guy who was not a believer, never read the Bible, never planted a seed or worked on a farm.
Discussion:
1. Do you have more wealth or more worries?
2. How can you apply wisdom to either?
3. How can you apply wisdom in the workplace to handle a current challenge of wealth or worry?
