Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)

Choking God Out Of Our Lives

Augustine (A.D. 354-430) said, “God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full – there’s nowhere for him to put it.” In the parable of the sower, Jesus explained that the thorny ground was consumed by the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things. Many things in life are good, wholesome, and not sinful. God wants His people to be industrious and busy in caring for their families and being a productive part of society. What often happens is not that a person is engaged in sinful activity, but rather that life becomes so busy that God is crowded out. Like Augustine observed, God wants to bless the soul with His grace, but there is no room because life is so full of the cares of the world.

Being busy is not a sign of productivity. Spinning wheels in sand create a lot of motion, but unless there is traction, there is no movement. Life can be full of good things that become the downfall of faith because they consume life, leaving no time for God and no room for Him in the heart. One of the consistent lessons throughout Scripture is the importance of making time for God.

Men and women of great faith found time to spend with the Father. Abraham was the patriarch of a huge family (he had 318 trained servants of war), but he never allowed his responsibilities to overshadow his worship of God. Jesus was an extremely busy teacher throughout his nearly three-year ministry. The disciples would often find the Lord alone in a secluded place, seeking the favor of His Father. Jesus took time to open His hands to the Father. If Jesus needed to spend time with the Father, no one needs it more than His followers.

Life can become so busy that there is no time for God, but the day will come when everyone will make time for God. The hands may be full of the affairs of life, but if God is not allowed to be part of that life, the soul will stand before the Lord with empty hands and empty hope. Life must be about examining what needs to be done and what needs to be left undone. God will not force Himself into the lives of His people. He waits to bless and give His children what they need, but He cannot do that when their hands are full of so many other things.

Crowding out God never serves a good purpose. Men seek the awards and accolades of their peers for being so productive and busy, but if they have not prepared themselves for eternity, their lives are empty. Never become so busy that God is not first in everything. He demands and seeks first place because He loves us. God gave the gift of His Son, proving to the world what He is willing to give. When life becomes so consumed by the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things, God has no room to find Himself. The gift of Jesus becomes a rejected offering of grace and mercy. Eternal life is found when we empty our lives to fill them with the Divine. All things in this world perish. Take hold of eternal life, which will never be taken away. Open your life to the glory of the God who made you.