“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [FIRST RESPONSE] Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. [SECOND RESPONSE] They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. [THIRD RESPONSE] And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. [FOURTH RESPONSE] But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:11-15 NKJV bold, bracketed words, and underlining added
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 122 NKJV
In the parable above, Jesus explains there are 4 ways people respond to the Bible, the Word of God, which is the seed sown into us whether we hear it preached or study it both of which we should do continually. The only response that bears fruit is when someone hears AND does what God’s Word says, and the third response bears a powerful message for a world much of which including countless people calling themselves Christians is overwhelmingly uncontrollably zealously chasing after anything that brings earthly riches and worldly pleasures all of which are temporary and fleeting and much of which is sin against God and if nothing else a distraction from Him and which is being sought after and chosen over and instead of believing in and truly and genuinely and sincerely and humbly and purely living for the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord never commands us to not enjoy our lives and the blessings He bestows upon us, but if we are honest with ourselves, are not some of us, if not many of us, living to satisfy our flesh with the material treasures of this life instead of living to bring pleasure and praise, honor and worship, joy and thanksgiving to, service and adoration for, and love and adoration for the Lord with the amazing and awesome unfathomable and endless treasure trove of blessings of sacrificing the lust of our flesh and instead growing ever closer to the Lord and soaking in His love and basking in His mercy and rejoicing in His forever fellowship that comes when we turn away from the world and its ways and live for Him above all? If you are living for the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life instead of for Christ, you are missing the greatest pleasure, the greatest treasure, in the universe. Forever in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ!