Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19)
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)
The above two verses teach us that you can prevent good teaching--even THE Word--from having an effect on your life. If you allow life's worries, riches, pleasures and the desires for other things to enter your life then the word of God will get choked out and you will not bear fruit like a true Christian (click to read about the good fruit in a true Christian's life).
Does your lifestyle cause the good teaching at your church to be wiped out, nullified, thwarted, undone in your life? While teaching you good things, does your church also condone and allow lifestyles that will make all their teaching of no effect? It is a fact that in America many churches teach the basic facts of the Bible while promoting or tolerating lifestyles that contradict the Bible and grieve the very heart of God.
Examine the following to see if you are nullifying good teaching that you receive:
First, ask yourself if you receive good teaching. A few examples are:
Jesus is the Son of God.
Jesus died for our sins.
Jesus rose again.
Jesus is coming back.
We should obey all of Jesus' teachings.
Next, ask yourself if you desire other things: Have you allowed other things to become more important to you, especially other things that God does not approve of?
Do you go to movies that promote impurity, filthy language and violence? Do you tell yourself that God doesn't mind?
Do you watch advertisements on TV and listen to them on the radio? Although marketing experts invest billions in their commercials because they know they can greatly affect what you buy, do you just tell yourself that all of the commercials don't affect you? If so you may find yourself going shopping frequently; examine your purchases to see how many things you buy that you really don't need.
Have you allowed professional sports to become exciting to you? You may even stay up late to watch games, read about the latest sports news, and you may even find yourself getting angry or prideful. When you can honestly say that you find sporting events more enjoyable than a good sermon or Bible reading, then you know that you have begun to desire athletics more than God.
Do you like playing video games? Do phrase such as "I died" or "I tried to kill" or "I'm almost dead" creep into your speech while you play? Video games are sometimes so violent that people pretend to kill other people while playing them! Jesus would not do such a thing!
Are you motivated by pleasures?
Although the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles endured great hardships for their faith, do you keep telling yourself that you deserve to live a comfortable life?
Do you take vacations that don't center around God?
Do you listen to sensual music?
Do you go to shopping malls often, especially when you do not need anything?
Do you compare what you have to what others have until you would like a bigger house, newer car, and more fashionable clothes?
Honestly, do you find yourself wanting more money?
Have you convinced yourself that you deserve more money at your job?
Does your life reflect that you believe what Jesus said: "it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven."
"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Tim 6:10).
If you can remove all of your personal biases and if you will take a good honest look at yourself you may find that your lifestyle goes against sound Bible teaching. Perhaps you are wondering why so many professing Bible believers around you live the same lifestyle as you. Perhaps you are frustrated that your church never challenged your lifestyle.
If you are asking yourself, "What do I do now?", then you are asking the right question. The Christian life involves God working in us to cause us to want to obey him and to give us the power to obey him (Phil. 2:12-13). Above, we listed just a few outward symptoms that indicate something is wrong in your heart. If you have the symptoms, then your life is preventing God from working in you. He does the work, but you must yield. If you give up all your sin and put your full faith in him, then the blood of Christ will cleanse you and he will empower you to live a life pleasing to Him. God will work powerfully in you. The question is: are you willing to cast off anything that might be "choking" God's Word out of your life? (Heb. 12:1).
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