In three of the four Gospels in the New Testament, Jesus tells a story about a farmer spreading seed. The seed lands on four different soils. The seed represents God’s message. The different soil depicts how people receive that message.
- Hard ground – The seed has nowhere to go and is taken away by birds – People don’t understand, and the message is lost.
- Rocky ground – The seed can’t grow roots and eventually withers – Hardships of life get in the way.
- Thorns in the soil – Choke out the seed growth – Worries of life and deceitfulness of riches take over.
- Good soil – Healthy growth – Hear, understand, accept, and are transformed.
The essence of the story is that the heart is foundational for true change to take place. While the message matters, and the messenger is important, it really comes down to a “heart condition.”
Jesus used the analogy of a farmer planting seed and the importance of soil to relate with people well versed in an agricultural setting. They understood the importance of the soil’s condition. Just throwing seeds and hoping for good results was not a good plan.
That same concept holds true today, some two thousand plus years later. We can plant, water, and turn to the light, but if the soil is not good, all our efforts are in vain. Planting, watering, and exposing the right amount of sunlight are important, but they can’t overcome bad soil.
That truth can continue to be applied to our lives today as well.
If you don’t like the person you are becoming, you might want to check the “soil” you are planting in for perspective. We are the summation of our choices, actions, and are heavily influenced by our environment.
If you want to become something, you have to do what those people do. If you want to represent something, you have to engage in what that type of person does. Direction, not intention, determines destination. Actions trump intentions all day long!
A question you have to ask yourself today: Are you better off pushing through where you are today or planting in better ground?
Perseverance is a virtue, but sometimes perseverance is trying something new, not just doing the same old thing day after day, hoping for a different outcome.
Finding the right place to “plant” might just open a new perspective, new insight, or new opportunities that provide the joy and fulfillment that you are seeking. It might also just be the right step toward a healthy “heart condition” too!
Where we are planting ourselves evidently has a lot to do with our heart condition!
The quality of the dirt matters. Choose wisely!
Doug equips leaders to make organizations better. He has two leadership books available on all online platforms. Whether you are looking for a speaker for your next event or a leadership coach to develop people and build an authentic team, contact Doug at doug.strickel@gmail.com and learn more about PLUS.
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