But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
My husband is a farmer. He keeps a close eye on his fields, watching for moisture content, disease, weeds, and pests. Each year has its own problems and blessings for the crops. But one thing is always present—weeds. The pesky plants compete for the moisture, fertilizer, and space against the precious, fruitful wheat. They hide in the rows of planted grain and grow faster than the crop intended for the field.
My husband is diligent to control them. He uses chemicals to destroy the plants that would choke the life from the wheat. He even speaks the Word of God over the crops. When he is not able to inspect the fields, he has someone else inspect the land for the appearance of new weeds. He knows the danger these unfruitful plants pose to our livelihood. If not for the persistent pursuit of clean fields and healthy wheat, our farm would not provide a living.
The cares of life, the choices we make, and the attitudes we adopt can crowd out the fruit in our lives. There is no room in our hearts and minds for both weeds and wheat! We must be on our guard for even the smallest of weeds, for they will grow quickly and destroy the chances for a good harvest.
Watch over your heart and mind today and tear out the weeds.
Jan Cline is a speaker and the director of the Inland NW Christian Writers conference.
