How You Listen
"A sower went out to sow seed..." is how Jesus begins to tell the parable in Luke 8. You may be familiar with it, recalling the different environments the seeds fell in, and the different outcomes:
- Some fell along the traveled path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air ate it up.
- Some fell on the rock, and as soon as it sprouted, it withered away because it had no moisture.
- Some fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it off.
- Some fell into good soil, and grew up and yielded a crop a hundred times.
Jesus later shares that the seed is the Word of God, so the weight of this parable covers every area of our lives. And I want you to also contemplate that larger scope while we look at how it illuminates our handling of finances, as His Word contains fitting instruction there as well.
Regarding our finances in this parable, the seeds include the command to bring our tithes and offerings to the Lord, to keep out of debt and owe no man anything but love, to spend less than we make, to be content in our circumstances, and to be generous towards others.
So how do we at times end up off track? Jesus disclosed his divine and intimate knowledge of us starting in verse 12 - "Those along the traveled road are the people who have heard; then the devil comes and carries away the message out of their hearts..."
How do we avoid being in this group? By identifying the devil early, as the one coming in to carry the message away. When false thoughts or suggestions come, such as to charge for discretionary items you cannot afford or to withhold tithes and offerings, these must be confronted as darts of the enemy attempting to replace the Word of God and to be cast away at once.
Next, Jesus tells "And those upon the rock [are the people] who, when they hear, receive and welcome it with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away.
We can avoid being here by meditating on the Word that we've received to help it take root, and by drawing close to the Lord, being aware of His presence constantly. It is written in Isaiah 26:3 that "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee", if our minds are towards Him, He will give us the strength to turn away from the temptation to overspend and will lead us to make wise decisions.
Then Jesus says "And as for what fell among the thorns, these are [the people] who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and care and riches and pleasures of life..."
The best way to stay away from this it to first release our cares and anxieties on the Lord--including our finances, as in Philippians 4 it says to not be anxious but by prayer and thanksgiving to make our requests known to God. In dealing with the riches and pleasures of life we must read and recall from 1 Timothy 6 how "if we have food and clothing we shall be content". If we focus on contentment, we'll withdraw from seeking extravagance. By having compassion for and being generous and giving towards others, it will also release your attachment to riches and belongings.
Lastly, Jesus states "But as for the [seed] in the good soil, these are [the people] who, hearing the Word, hold it fast in a just and worthy heart, and steadily bring forth fruit with patience."
How do we more consistently land in this group? Jesus speaks of our hearts holding the Word, and in Proverbs 4:23 it is written "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it". This follows closely to the first group, where we have to reject what is false from entering our hearts. The last word is patience, which we have to regard as a focal point, part of our submission onto God.
Why was this post titled "How You Listen"? Because Jesus concluded by saying "Be careful therefore how you listen." So our main take away is to highly regard the Word that we hear spoken from the pulpit and read on the pages by our own eyes as the precious, living words spoken by God, who is infinite in wisdom, power and mercy.
In closing, I want to take the liberty of rearranging the order of verse 18, so your last thought is on the positive and what you want to be striving for:
Whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them. Whoever has will be given more, therefore consider carefully how you listen.
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
