BENEFITS FROM LOVING GOD'S WORD

Prove Yourself to Be "Good Soil"

The importance of having a right view of God's Word was highlighted in one of Jesus' parables. As Jesus proclaimed the good news throughout Palestine, crowds gathered to hear him. (Luke 8:1, 4) Not at all, however, really loved God's Word. No doubt, many came to hear him because they wanted to see miracles or because they enjoyed his marvelous way of teaching. Hence, Jesus told the crowds an illustration: "A sower went out to sow his seed. Well, as he was sowing, some of it fell alongside the road and was trampled down, and the birds of heaven ate it up. Some other landed upon the rock-mass,and, after sprouting, it dried up because of not having moisture. Some other fell among the thorns, and the thorns that grew up with it choked it off. Some other fell upon the good soil, and, after sprouting it produced fruit a hundredfold." -Luke 8:5-8.

Jesus' parables showed that there would be different responses to the preaching of the good news, depending on the heart condition of the hearer. The seed being sown is "the word of God." (Luke 8:11) Or, as another record of the parable says, the seed is "the word of the kingdom." (Matthew 13:19) Jesus could use either expression, since the theme of God's Word is the heavenly Kingdom under Jesus Christ as King by means of which Jehovah will vindicate his sovereignty and sanctify his name. (Matthew 6:9, 10) In effect, then,the seed is the message of the good news in God's Word, the Bible, Jehovah's Witnesses highlight this Kingdom message as they sow seed in imitation of the original Sower, Jesus Christ. What response do they find?

Jesus said that some seed falls by the roadside and is trodden down. This refers to people who are too preoccupied for the Kingdom seed to take root in their hearts. Before they can develop a love of God's Word, "the Devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts in order that they may not believe and be saved." (Luke 8:12) Some seed falls on a rock-mass. This refers to people who are attracted to the Bible's message but do not let it affect their hearts. When opposition comes or when they find it hard to apply Bible counsel, "they fall away," because they have no root. (Luke 8:13) Then there are those who hear the word but are overwhelmed by the "anxieties and riches and pleasured of this life." Eventually, like plants entangled by thorns, "they are completely choked." -Luke 8:14.

Next time: Conclusion of Prove Yourself to Be "Good Soil"

Watchtower, 1999