The 4 Grounds
The parable of the sower in, (Matthew 19:3-8 and Matthew19-23) is a description of Jesus describing 4 types of people and how the gospel takes effect in their life's. The seed is the "word of the Kingdom", v.19. The sower is the message of the word and the place that the seed falls on is the heart of the person. If you have willingly heard the gospel, than you are one of these 4 grounds. The real question is, which ground are you?
The people are those who hear the gospel, not those who refuse to hear it. Some of these people are the very same people you may see in church on Sunday. Listed below are the 4 types of people who perceive the gospel in 4 different ways.
1. The way side.
2. The stony places.
3. The thorns.
4. The good ground.
The way side. There are many out there today who unfortunately fall into this category. That is to say; many people hear the word of God with only their ears, therefore not understanding the message of the word. So because that person does not understand what he/she is hearing, the enemy (Satan) comes in and steals the seed that was planted by the sower. I have seen this quit often. Many who fall into this category will smile, nod their head and even say amen and yet, know nothing of which they just heard. Be careful not to be the "way side" ground! If you lack understanding, than ask the Lord and he will give you knowledge, (James 1:5,6).
The stony places. Those whose seed fell in the "stony places" are if not the more common today, than those whose seed fell on the "way side". When you have the worries and fears of being laughed at, mocked, scorned, rejected and persecuted due to the fact of representing the word of God, they will tend to fall from their faith and become offended. Keep in mind, these are "those who receive the word with gladness", yes fall because "they have no root in them". Do you fall in this category? Be strong and courageous, your God will be with you wherever you go, (Joshua 1:9).
The thorns. The seed that falls on the "thorns", is like the seed that fell on the "stony places". Instead of fear, worries, tribulations and persecutions because of the gospel, there is the "cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches" that choke out the word and causes the person to be unfruitful for the Kingdom of God. It's sad to say; but you will find a lot of these people in the "prosperity gospel" movement and "word of faith" movement. Yet, if you are overtaken by the cares of this world and this causes you to be unfruitful for the kingdom, than you fall into this category. Do not let fear set in. Stand in your faith in Jesus Christ and be not of this category.
The good ground. This is the only ground that the sower's seed should fall on. This receptive heart does everything the other hearts don't! That is; receives the word, understands it, does not fall into the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and bares fruit for God's Kingdom. God has intended for all who hear his word to have this kind of ground. We must not only hear God's word; but apply it to our daily life's,(James 1:22). We must tell others about the hope that we have in us through Jesus Christ.
Remember; there are 4 kinds of grounds that God's seed shall fall on, which ground are you?