A Heart Full of Thorns

The third kind of person who does not savingly hear the Word is the thorny ground heart. The thorns are described as the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things. These are the reasons why many people who hear the Word preached are not converted by that preaching. They are obsessed with the full time job of worrying about how they will provide for themselves. What shall they eat? What shall they put on? What about medical care? What about college? What about retirement? They also worry about what other people will think of them if they identify with Christ. They are enslaved by the approval of man. Their worries about provision leads them to trust in riches as the answer to everything. If they just had more money. Loving money become a root of all kinds of evil in their lives. The third thorn is the desire for other things. They can't come to the wedding feast because of land, oxen and marriage ceremonies. Their too busy. Their too occupied with sports games and practices, concerts, performances, boy scouts, girl scouts, 4-H, hunting, shopping, auctions, and a myriad of other wares sold at Vanity Fair. This desire for "other things" consumes their lives and leaves no time for seeking the kingdom. All the while they are deceived into thinking all is well since the "other things" are not inherently sinful.