The Distracted Heart

Text: Matthew 13:1-8 & 22

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (06/09/02)

Introduction:   

KEY WORDS: - Thistles / Thorns / Briers / Brambles / Nettles / Prickly Plants

ILLUS: - A wealthy businessman was horrified to see a fisherman sitting beside his boat, playing with a small child.

"Why aren't you out fishing?" asked the businessman.  "Because I caught enough fish for one day, "replied the fisherman.

"Why don't you catch some more?"  "What would I do with them?"  "You could earn more money," said the businessman. "Then with the extra money, you could buy a bigger boat, go into deeper waters, and catch more fish. Then you would make enough money to buy nylon nets. With the nets, you  could catch even more fish and make more money. With that money you could own two boats, maybe three boats. Eventually you could have a whole fleet of

boats and be rich like me."

"Then what would I do?" asked the fisherman.  "Then," said the businessman, "you could really enjoy life."   The fisherman looked at the businessman quizzically and asked, "What do you think I am doing now?"

APPLICATION: It’s true that material things and pursuits rob us of important things like time invested in family and friendships.  How much more do they rob us of spiritual vitality?

REVIEW of previous messages in series:

1. Sow the Seed

2. The Wayside Soil (Deluded Heart)

3. The Stony Soil (Discouraged Heart)

4. The Thorny Soil (Distracted Heart)

Explanation and Illustration of Thorny Soil from vs. 7 and vs. 22

ILLUS: In Palestine there are over 50 species of thorns & thistles.  They grow thickly and up to heights of 6-8 Ft.

THEME & PURPOSE of today’s message:

1. We’ll identify the thorns, take a look at what distracts us from spiritual endeavors.

If we do this something has been accomplished!

2. I want to convince you that the thorns are a problem.

If we can do this we’ve done even better!!

3. I want to further convince you to take a look at your own life and recognize the deadly work of thorns in your own heart.  And then set to work in plowing the heart and pulling the thorns..

Then our task will be complete!!!

“A thorough examination will do you no harm if your healthy, it may save your life if your sick!!”

These truths may apply to any in the following three groups..

1). The Unsaved

2). Those with an Empty Profession of faith

3). Thos Genuinely Converted but distracted by this world.

2 Timothy 4:10  For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

I. Identifying The Thorns

They fall into two major categories in our text..

A. The Care/Cares of this World

CARE – worry, anxiety - connected with merizo, "to draw in different directions, distract," hence signifies "that which causes this, a care, especially an anxious care,"

Now then there are anxious cares and there are earnest cares and it would be good for us to know the difference.

One conveys the thought of anxiety, the other of watchful interest and earnestness.

The point is that God wants us to be earnestly careful in certain areas (Towards sin in our life / the care for others), but not full of anxious care (our own selfish interests).

Here are a couple of scriptural examples….

2 Corinthians 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

What are some of the anxious cares of this world?

Matthew 6:31-32  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

I’ve identified several in the form of questions that people ask themselves…

1). How will I accumulate more and better things?

Luke 12:17-18  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

There are very few truly content people.

ILLUS: Quaker’s Property

2). What can I do to prolong my life on this earth?

Proverbs 27:1  Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

We squander health in search of wealth;

We scheme and toil and save.

Then squander wealth in search of health,

And all we get is a grave.

3). How can I derive more pleasure from this life?

4). What can I do to be well received, better liked, more popular with others?

Proverbs 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

5). What can I do that I will be remembered for?

John 21:21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

JESUS’ ANSWER – “What is that to thee?”

6). What can I get away with?

Proverbs 28:1  The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

7). How can I survive?

8). How can I escape?

·         Circumstances beyond my control?

·         Consequences of my own sin?

Some of these things are not sinful on their own, but our anxiousness for them is the bramble that crowds out and chokes out the seed of God’s Word.

The second major category of thorns is…

B. The Deceitfulness of Riches

EMPHASIZE & EXPLAIN – Riches are not the problem,  the Deceitfulness of riches is the problem.

1 Timothy 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

What are some common lies about riches?  Some untruths?

1). Riches = Happiness

There are various forms of this one….

Riches = Status / Friends / Power etc.

2). Money makes the world go round.

It does, but not usually in a good way!!

It becomes “whatever I have to do to make the next dollar”

3). You can get rich quick

ILLUS: Gambling / The Lotteries

4). You deserve it!

Advertising / Commercialism

5). You deserve it, NOW!!

Easy Credit.   Department store cards are the worst! Visa (In Master Card we Trust!!)

The advertisers say, “Buy now, pay later”.  We should be saying, “Save now, buy later”.

6). You must have it at any cost.

This leads men to dishonest means of gain.

7). He who dies with the most toys wins.

Luke 12:19-20  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

The moral of the story is He still dies!!!

Luke adds another category..

C. Pleasures of this life.

Luke 8:14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

AMUSEMENT - Def. – A (no) Muse (Thinking).

Spurgeon – “Pleasure is the murderer of thought”.

There is one additional category of thorns in Mark’s gospel…

D. Lusts of other things

Mark 4:19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Lust for gain, glory, knowledge, pleasure, etc……

When any inferior pursuit becomes the master of our minds, the cause of God and truth takes a back seat!!

II. The Problem with Thorns

A. They are already there

The seed fell among the already growing thorns.  Vs.7 & 22

As far as a Biblical history – they are part of the curse! (Gen 3:18))

And they are natural to the soil.

B. They grow rapidly and spread quickly

Explain & Illustrate

They are intent on mastering the soil!!

Evil things are Easy things, common things, but right things are rare!!!

C. Thorns choke the seed (the Word)

Notice the focal point of attack in all three of the soils (hearts) so far!!

1). The wayside soil (Birds/Satan snatches away the __________?)

2). Stony Ground (offended because of the ______________?)

3). Thorny ground (Thorns choke the ______________?)

CHOKE – the idea is choke together.

III. The Result of Thorns -Unfruitfulness

The seed is there, maybe even the plant.

Just a semblance of the real thing…. Plenty of leaf, but no fruit!!

How do I know if the thorns are increasing and thriving in my life?

Take a look at your own spiritual life.

Are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

Are you growing in strength and desire and effectiveness as a servant of the Lord?

Is there fruit?????

What about the spiritual disciplines?

How is your prayer life?

Bible reading?

Attendance at Church / Prayer / Bible Study??

How is your giving?  Tithing?? Cheerfully???

Proverbs 24:30-31  I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

31  And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Does that describe your spiritual yard???

Wouldn’t it be better to follow the pattern of…..

Malachi 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Conclusion:     (Review)

MAIN POINTS:

1). The Thorns - Identified

2). The Problem – Nature of the Thorns

3). The Result – Unfruitfulness  (Self- Examination Required)