Are you dirty enough?

When you receive the seed of God’s word, you can never be too dirty. In Jesus’ parable of the four types of soil, we find that the richest soil produces the best crop of fruit.

The parable of the sower and the soil is told in both Matthew 13 and Luke 8. Let’s use Matthew’s account: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matt. 13:3b-8.

As we see, there are four kinds of soil: the shallow soil beside the road, the rocky soil, the thorny soil and the good, rich soil. Both Matthew and Mark give a full explanation of what happens to the seed in each of these soils.

In Matt. 3: 19-23 we find these details: ^“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 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. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

We probably all know people who display the characteristics of each of these types of soil. We may even realize that we have been each of these soils sometime in our lives. Of the different kinds of dirt, I think most of us in this modern world are most like the third type: we receive God’s word but we let worries about everyday concerns and our constant desire for more ‘stuff’ choke the life out of the spiritual seed that God plants in our life. We never succeed at leading a full, productive life because we let anxiety, fear and greed rob us of a deeper connection to God.

The Spiritual Disciplines can help us tend our little plot of ground. They can prepare our hearts to receive all that God wants to share with us. Through practicing the 12 Disciplines (Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration) we will find that we are developing rich, moist soil in which love, joy, peace and the other Fruits of the Spirit will grow and increase.

When it comes to practicing the Spiritual Disciplines, we can never be too dirty.