Jesus told a parable of the Sower which included the following:
(NASB) Luke 8:5 “The sower went out to sow his seed…”
(NASB) Luke 8:11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”
(NASB) Luke 8:14 “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

What thorns in your life are choking out the words of God for you and to you?
Worries and fretting…what tops your list?
God’s word says:
(NASB) Psalm 37:1 “Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrong doers…”
(NASB) Psalm 37:3-5 “Trust in the LORD and do good…
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

Riches…upon what are you relying in place of God?
As followers of Christ we are to abound in the riches of God.
(NASB) Ephesians 1:7 “In Him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…”
(NASB) Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
To rely on God for His eternal riches…is to be rich indeed.

Pleasures…are you a lover of pleasure?
(NASB) Proverbs 21:17 “He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.”
(NASB) Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

A wasted life is to bring no godly fruit to maturity. Our life is here for a short time, eternity is forever and ever…God’s word needs to take front and center in our lives.

What thorns are choking out God’s word from bearing fruit in your life?