Thorns of Cares

Subscribe here:

Thorns or brambles (a.k.a. weeds) tend to generally overrun garden beds if not removed promptly. As the verse above notes, thorns will choke the plants growing in the same beds. As it is in the garden, so it is in life. Turn your attention to consider how the choking thorns scenario parallels the cares of the world that choke the growth of the word of God in a person's life.

As for me, I define "cares" to be continuous feelings of worry, burdens, or anxiety that crop up in life (pun intended). These feelings of worry and anxiety can develop from many areas of life, such as poor health, financial struggle, emotional distress, relationship issues or/and any crisis that occurs in life. I don't think it becomes "cares" until it begins drive one's decisions and actions to the extent that it is the center of one's attention. Often, these feelings lead to belief in self-sufficiency, which will choke the word of the Lord from obtaining fruition.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it…And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

-Luke 8:7, 14 (ESV)

* * * * *

* * * * *

In Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV), Jesus reminds his followers who have labored and are heavy burden that He is willing to swap yokes since "his yoke is easy and burden is light." In 1 Peter 5:6-8 (ESV), Jesus's lesson is reemphasized by the apostle Simon Peter who expands on the Jesus' instruction from Matthew 11:29, for followers to pick up Jesus' yoke, learn from Him, as one must "humble" himself to God, "casting all anxieties on [Jesus], because he cares for you."

Practically, this is the type of soil that I have been in my life at and in various seasons. When I fail to fix my eyes on Jesus and fail to strengthen my relationship with Him in quiet and listening, studying my Bible, and praying with love and intention. I let the "cares" of my life stunt or delay growth in the word of God, which in turn may delay the fruition of the purpose or goal that the Lord has for me at that time or in that season. Have you ever had the thorn of cares choke the word of God in your life? Do you find it easy to revert to this kind of soil? How so? When did this occur? Do you follow the advice from Matthew and 1 Peter? Do you unintentionally pick the "care" back up after handing it to Jesus?