22: Only Plant in the Right Soil
Key Passage
The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive 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. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 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. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”
Mark 4:14-20
From the 20 Practices of Disciplemakers:
A commitment to discipleship is not a short-term commitment. I would not make it lightly. But how do you know who to commit to walking a long road with?
The Parable of the four soils in Mark 4 is the key to answering that question. Do a study on this passage. In it, the sower sows seeds indiscriminately…on all soils.
The soils represent human hearts.
There are 4 types of soils/hearts:
Hard soil/hearts - it's easy to tell that this is the wrong type of soil as it is not responsive to the gospel. (PS if someone looks hard, it may not mean their heart is hard to the word of truth. Try them. Sow on all soils).
Rocky soil/hearts - these hearts respond well, so you will be enticed to choose them, but when the sun comes up (hard times, trials, etc), they have no roots and whither.
Thorny soil/hearts - also receive the word well, but their 'eyes wander' to the lusts of the world: wealth, comfort, etc.
Good soil/hearts - this is the one worth investing in; it's what you keep searching for.
Importantly, Jesus shows that only about 25% of hearts are prepared soil. Take care to look for these to invest in. Pray and ask Jesus to show you. He knows.