Refuse The Cares Of This Life
Refuse
The Cares Of This Life
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares”
(Luke 21:34).
The parable of the sower that Jesus told in Mark chapter 4 shows us the reason the Word of God is unfruitful in the lives of some Christians: “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 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” (Mark 4:18-19). So, when you find yourself not bearing the right fruits after the Word of God has come to you, such that the Word is not producing results and keeping you steady in the way, it’s because you’re receiving the Word among thorns.
“Thorns” here refers to “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things.” These things choke the Word of God in people’s lives and make it unproductive, thus resulting in many not living to their full potentials in God. 1 John 2:15 says “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Refuse to allow the cares of this present world douse your love for the Lord or dissipate your zeal for spiritual things.
Our opening scripture says “take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting.” God doesn’t want your heart to go after the things of this life. He doesn’t want you overwhelmed with the cares of this life. He wants you to set your heart on Him and give Him your whole attention. He wants you to guard your heart and make it a fertile ground always for His Word to not only be deep-rooted, but to produce the desired result.
Proverbs 23:26 says “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” One way to do this is to constantly meditate on the Word as the Lord admonished Joshua in Joshua 1:8. When your mind is full of God this way, your concerns will be centered on how to please Him, and you won’t find yourself going after the vain things of life.
Prayer
Dear Father,
I thank you for the blessing of your Word and for teaching me how to keep my focus on spiritual things and set my love on you at all times. My heart is fixed on you today, to serve, love you and know you more, and nothing in the world can distract me from the pursuit of your will and purpose for my life
in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 10:38-39
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Bible reading plan: Galatians 3:15-25, Song of Solomon 6-8
2 Year Bible reading plan: 1Timothy 4:1-8, Jeremiah 36
