The Distracted Heart

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

There is a second condition of the heart. Jesus explained that some seed fell in thick briar patches that eventually choked out the plant. Jesus went on to explain that the briar patches in life are worry and wealth, that either can distract the heart. 

I think we all understand the basic principle of the deceitfulness of wealth. I like the story of the rich man who lived a miserable life. He visited a rabbi to talk about his depression. The rabbi took the rich man by the hand and led him to a window. 'look out there," he said. The rich man looked into the street, "What do you see?" asked the rabbi. 

"I see men, women, and children," answered the rich man.

Again the rabbi took him by the hand and this time led him to a mirror: "Now what do see?"

"Now I see myself," the rich man replied.

Then the rabbi said, "Behold, in the window there is a glass, and in the mirror there is a glass. But the mirror is covered with a little silver, and no sooner is the silver added than you cease to see others, and you see only yourself."

We understand how wealth can insulate us from the world around us. But you know what our problem is. We suffer from junk overload. It is not necessarily that we are doing bad things. In fact, most of us are doing good things, family things. The problem is that when these good and wholesome things crowd out better things in life, they can become a stumbling block and a snare.

The weeds and the briars of busyness have a tendency to choke out the kingdom of God within us. We don't allow ourselves time for reflection and prayer. We don't allow ourselves time for worship. Why? Because the ground is covered with weeds, because we are busy, because we are worried this won't get done and that won't be resolved. Not many of us are wealthy, but far too many of us worry incessantly. Worry has the same power as wealth to crowd out the more important things of life. Jesus understood this, and he saw it as an impediment to the Kingdom. 

The result is that the seed of the Kingdom of God never comes to fruition.

Questions to Ponder
Do you suffer from junk overload?
Do you allow yourself time for reflection and prayer?
Do you worry incessantly?

In His Service.
Terry Phillips