8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The soil is the key to success. Ask any farmer. If the soil is good, the crop will grow. If there is water and sunlight, the only difference between fields is the quality of the soil. That is why farmers spend so much time and energy enriching the soil. They plant winter crops in order to enhance the soil for the summer crops. The soil is the focus of so much work. In this parable, a story told about a natural occurrence in order to teach a spiritual lesson, Jesus talks about a farmer spreading seed. Only some of the seed fell on soil that facilitated optimal growth. The rest of the seed was unproductive. The Gospel is heard by so many, and yet only some respond to the message in a way that allows that message to fulfill its purpose. Soil is meant to produce plants. Our lives are meant to produce righteous living, living that reflects our nature as creatures like our Creator. The seed is all good. The Gospel will accomplish its purpose in good soil, soil properly prepared. The farmer prepares the soil, tilling, fertilizing, aerating, and furrowing. At the proper time the seed is sown. Are you allowing the Lord to work on your hard soil? Are you allowing the Lord to work on other’s soil with whom you will have the opportunity to share the Gospel? Are you watching the condition of the soil to ensure proper timing of the sowing of the good seed? Timing is so important. Sown too early and the cold temperatures don’t facilitate proper growth. Sown too late and the heat dries out the new shoots too rapidly. Sharing the Gospel at just the right time makes all the difference. People have to be ready to hear. There needs to be a sense of need in their hearts. Crisis moments often crack soil open, exposing softer soil underneath. But the Gospel needs to be tenderly planted during crisis. The recipient needs to feel supported and understood, not just the victim of a ‘fly-by’ preacher.
The Arnold Journey 