We can learn much about our circumstances of life from the parable of the sower. We can learn that as we go through life there is always a real possibility of falling away from God. Jesus said there are those who have heard the word of God and as they go their way, they are choked with worries, riches and pleasures of this life. (Luke 8:14)

Mark 4: 18,19 records that some because of worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things will choke the word and it will become unfruitful. This process of having the word of God choked out of us is usually a gradual occurrence for which we must be constantly on guard. When we consider that our eternal salvation is only through Jesus Christ, to let that slip away because we are more concerned with worry and things is a tragic loss.

Instead of being choked by things, we ought to be like the seed sown in good soil which yielded a crop, some- one hundred fold, some - sixty, some - thirty. A crop produced in our lives by living as the word of God teaches is what Jesus expects of us. Because we all surely have different abilities and talents, Jesus only expects us to use what we’ve been given. Just as it takes time for a crop to grow from seed, it likely will take time for us to develop our crop of life. It will likely take time for us to develop our crop of life, but we are consistently growing.

Have you ever considered whether the word of God is producing greater results today in your life as compared to last year? I believe a periodic evaluation is most useful. May our Lord guide and direct us through the scriptures and may we put forth the effort in application as we learn.