“THORNS”
Think about the amount of daily pressure on our shoulders.
As we move from youth to adulthood, we are expected to reach new milestones: Choose a college, select a major, land a job, find a spouse, buy a house, have some kids, pay for their college, retire.
These worthwhile goals carry lofty expectations of their own. “Spend quality time with your family.” “Advance in your career.” “Give back.” “Raise your children in the faith.”
Think about the amount of daily pressure on our shoulders.
Add to this the endless supply of hobbies, entertainment, vacations, and opportunities in our 21st Century Western world. Suddenly we’re overwhelmed and hyper-busy.
Jesus speaks to this reality as we continue to study his parable of the four soils.
THREAT #3 – DISTRACTION
After tackling hard hearts and trials, Jesus discusses the third soil. It tries to grow but is choked out by thorns, and yields no harvest.
Here is Jesus’ explanation: And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19 ESV)
Distraction bombards us everywhere we go.
I can’t imagine a more fitting description of the spiritual struggle of our day.
Every day we wake up to face the cares of our world, the temptation to pursue more, and the constant desire for other things. Distraction bombards us everywhere we go.
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN…
Followers of Jesus often think in terms of “Wrong” and “Right”. Pornography? Drug abuse? Stealing? All of them are wrong.
We think that if we avoid what is wrong, we’ll be alright.
Thorns are (mostly) good things that crowd out God’s word in our hearts.
It’s a wonderful thing to avoid sin. But when Jesus defines thorns, he doesn’t describe a typical list of transgressions. Thorns are (mostly) good things that crowd out God’s word in our hearts.
Jesus is saying that just because something is allowed does not mean it is advisable. Paul says “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated [mastered] by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV)
Just because we can, doesn’t mean that we should.
FAKE WORK
“Back in the ‘70s, the average consumer in the U.S. saw around 500 ads per day. That number has since increased by a factor of 10 to upward of 5,000 ads per day.” (Ryan Holmes, LinkedIn Article)
Think about that. We’re exposed to 5,000 branding messages a day. Each one tailored toward getting us to try something, do something, buy something.
On top of that, every time we check our phones we see a text, photo, or video inviting us (or pressuring us) to fill our lives with a flurry of activity. (And we check our phones between 100-200 times per day).
All things are lawful. But not all things are helpful.
Every time we check our phones we see a text, photo, or video inviting us (or pressuring us) to fill our lives with a flurry of activity.
In his book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”, John Mark Comer says that “Satan doesn’t show up as a demon with a pitchfork and gravelly smoker voice… Today, you’re far more likely to run into the enemy in the form of an alert on your phone while you’re reading your Bible or a multiday Netflix binge or a full-on dopamine addiction to Instagram or a Saturday morning at the office or another soccer game on a Sunday or commitment after commitment after commitment in a life of speed.” (p20)
Netflix, Saturday mornings at the office, and soccer games aren’t bad. But they (and thousands of other activities) can become thorns. Without our notice, a life of urgent thorns can crowd out what matters most.
Instead of treasuring the things of God, we marvel and move on because of the pace of our lives.
“I WOULD LIKE YOU TO BE FREE FROM CONCERN”
1 Corinthians 7 focuses primarily on singleness and marriage, but Paul’s message has application in every area of life.
He exhorts his readers to simplify their lives so that they may focus their attention on Christ.
Netflix, Saturday mornings at the office, and soccer games aren’t bad. But they (and thousands of other activities) can become thorns.
I would like you to be free from concern. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:32, 35 ESV)
I love that phrase: Undivided devotion to the Lord.
Imagine living a life where the most important thing is your relationship with God. You have time to pray, read scripture, spend time in solitude. There is space for physical and emotional health, connecting with others in your church community, and experiencing the power of Jesus as you walk in God’s purpose for your life.
Most of us want to live like this. The problem is that our lives are full of thorns.
MACHETE
Have you ever done any yard work? If so, you’ve probably encountered some thorns. When you do, there’s only one solution. Get out the machete and hack them away.
Jesus said the same thing about the thorns in our lives. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30 ESV)
Jesus isn’t advocating self-mutilation. But he is suggesting that we ruthlessly and violently attack anything preventing us from experiencing the fullness of life with him.
This means sin. But it also extends to thorns.
Jesus is suggesting that we ruthlessly and violently attack anything preventing us from experiencing the fullness of life with him.
I’m not suggesting you stop work, drop out of college, or ghost your family and friends. I’m saying we should all evaluate the dozens of pursuits we pile into our weeks because we assume they are harmless.
What thorns are choking your spiritual health and keeping you from treasuring the things of Jesus?
We cannot blame our poor spiritual health on others. We must take responsibility for our own souls. It is time to pick up our machetes.
NEXT STEPS
1: Read Mark 5.
2: Spend 5-10 minutes in Solitude reflecting on the scripture you read.
3: Text one friend one thing that you learned.
BONUS: Read “Free To Focus” by Michael Hyatt – This book was vital in helping me restructure my life to focus on the things that matter most.
Tomorrow: Week 3, Day 5 – “Just Do It”