Soil Types: Mark 4:15-19
Failure is always an option. This was one of the catchphrases from one of my favorite television shows, Mythbusters. In that context, it was understood that whenever you are trying something new, or experimenting, things can always go sideways. It is impossible to foresee every possibility and circumstance. Sometimes you just act and see where it takes you.
As Jesus talks about the different kinds of soils, He explains that there is the path, the rocky soil, and the thorny soil. The path is so well-trod that the ground is hard enough the seed cannot find purchase and therefore the birds eat it all up. The rocky soil can at least receive the seed, but since there is not enough room for deep roots the seed cannot thrive and it quickly dies. The thorny soil seems like it will allow the seed to grow, but since it also allows the thorns to grow the seed gets choked out. Three types of soil are given, each having different variations of the same outcome. The seed doesn’t grow.
Typically, this passage is used to talk about ways that people are exposed to Christ but don’t embrace the message. That is a completely valid understanding. There are people in the world who have no room for Jesus. There are people in the world who seem like they want Jesus but they aren’t willing to receive Him deeply. There are people in the world who want to receive Jesus deeply, but their lives are already so full that it is hard to make room for Him.
This parable can also be applied to various seasons in life. Even among people who are genuinely after God’s own heart, we all have times when we are terribly busy and times when our lives are much less full. We all have times when we are ready to accept God’s change in our lives and times when we really want things to stay the way they are. We might even have times when we say we love God, but we really aren’t pursuing Him and open to His call.
It is easy to use this passage as a prooftext for judgment against others. This passage is just as useful when we apply it to our own life. Being good soil is hard work, and as fallen human beings we don’t always get it right. The Lord knows I certainly don’t always get it right. When it comes to my sinful heart I’m not always as receptive to God as I should be. When it comes to my ability to manage my time, I don’t always leave as much time for God as I should. When it comes to my willingness to let God affect change within me, I don’t always let Him go as deep as I should. Some days, living in the world and being obediently open to God is more difficult than it seems like it should be. Failure is always an option.
