Devotions
Fertile of Barren Land?
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still, other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 13: 3-9 (NIV)
A Seed that Sprung Up Quickly
In 2008, our church received a team of Ukrainian
preachers and businessmen who taught
us godly principles for wealth creation. Some were very young, yet by applying
biblical principles, they had
become financially
free, paid off their debts, and supported the work of God in different parts of
the world. We
were excited by what we heard. Everyone wants to be free from debt and live
without constant lack. So we decided to act on the word we received. The seed sprang up quickly, but a few months later, many of us had returned to the
same patterns we had known before. Perhaps the soil was shallow. Perhaps it was thorny.
What is clear is that,
for many, the message did not fall on
fertile ground.
Yet those who followed the principles saw fruit, and today we can testify to the truth of what we learned in that conference.
The
Question Beneath the Story
I know many
people are
uncomfortable with what is often called
the prosperity gospel, but these preachers were not prosperity preachers. Still, we must acknowledge that wealth can serve
the work of God. Even Jesus, though
He is the Son of God, received support from people
“who provided for Him from their
substance” (Luke 8:1,
NKJV). God gives the capacity to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), and
when He blesses us, we are called to
receive it with grace, humility,
thanksgiving, and generosity.
But the
purpose of this story is not to teach us how to become rich. Its purpose is to
provoke self-examination: What kind of soil are we? Are we rocky, thorny, or
fertile land?
The Heart as Soil
A person with a fertile heart receives every good
seed, multiplies it, and produces fruit. The
parable is first about the Word of God and the message of salvation, but I
believe the principle also reaches into other areas of life. Good advice meant to build
you up is a seed. A word of prophecy
spoken over you is a seed. The money God entrusts to you is a seed. Each one is meant to produce something in you and through you.
If we look
in the mirror and realize we are the same as we were last year, then something
in us may be barren. There should be growth, even if it is small. The promises
we have received should give birth to hope, confidence, trust, and action. If
they do not, perhaps the heart is rocky or thorny soil. This is why Jesus says,
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” It is not enough to hear; we must hear,
understand, and act.
From Barren Ground to
Fruitful Land
Being barren is not a permanent condition. With God,
nothing is impossible. Wasteland
can be cultivated, stones can be
removed, and thorns can be uprooted. In
some areas of my life, including finances, I was
barren for many years. I am not sure how fertile I have
become, but I know
I have come a long way.
In my
struggles, I have discovered that the solution to human weakness and challenge
is often simple: “Help me, God.” When we ask God for help and are willing to
follow His guidance, He shows us the way. He teaches us how to turn barren
places into fertile land, because His desire is to see His children flourish
and live the abundant life Jesus made available to us.
Posted : Sep 07, 2026