\n
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I didn’t particularly enjoy weeding but I did enjoy the 2$ and hour they would give me! I also felt like I was doing something significant, I was saving the flowerbeds from sure doom! I quickly realized how fast weeds grew.<\/p>\n
If I didn\u2019t come for a week or two the weeds would already be making a good comeback, they were bigger and their roots were deeper. They also required more of my strength and time to remove!<\/p>\n
If left alone for even longer the weeds would overtake the flowers, occupying every square inch of soil and sucking up the moisture. The flowers would simply shrivel up while the weeds pressed for the sky!<\/p>\n
Weeds of the spirit<\/h4>\n
Worry and anxiety are the weeds of the mind and spirit. Do nothing and they will grow! Leave them alone hoping that they will go away and when you come back they will be bigger and stronger than before. Eventually they crowd out everything else and do real damage to your spirit!<\/p>\n
In the New Testament Jesus used a similar illustration when he taught his disciples about the destructive nature of worry. In the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:3-9) Jesus explained how worry can completely take over our life, not even leaving room for us to respond to the message of the gospel.<\/p>\n
Other seeds fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew higher and choked them out. Matthew 13:7<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Later the disciples asked Jesus to explain this parable to them and this is what he said.<\/p>\n
As for what was sown among the thorn bushes, this is the person who hears the word, but the worries of life and the deceitful pleasures of wealth choke the word so that it can’t produce a crop. Matthew 13:22<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus compares the worries of this life to thorn bushes that invade the space and leave no opportunity for the seed of the gospel to take root in man\u2019s heart. He then goes further to talk about how the deceit of possessions and wealth choke out any space that might be left for the seed to grow.<\/p>\n
Worries of life<\/h4>\n
What does Jesus mean by the \u201cworries of life\u201d? The Greek word translated \u201cworries\u201d in Matthew 13:22 is \u201cmerimna\u201d. It is often translated as worries, cares or concerns. It can be used in either a positive or negative sense but the basic idea is something that requires attention.<\/p>\n
In the context of this parable in Matthew 13 the \u201cworries of life\u201d is a general statement that could refer to almost anything in life that hinders us from hearing and responding to the truth of the gospel.<\/p>\n
Distracted by the mundane<\/h4>\n
Literally the Greek word \u201cmirmna\u201d means \u201cto distract\u201d or \u201cto divide\u201d. \u00a0Jesus was showing his disciples how easily the ordinary things of life can become a problem when we allow them to distract us from the most important truths of life. Worries desperate us from the very essence of life, they pull us away from the Giver of life and keep us focused on the mundane and superficial aspects of life.<\/p>\n
It is waking early with the tasks for the day already on our mind, it is making sure the kids are dressed and fed and out the door for school, it is jumping in the car with coffee in hand and rushing to work, it is receiving a paycheck and paying the bills, it is our regular tv shows and evening news.<\/p>\n
Focused on the superficial<\/h4>\n
The worries of life are everything and anything in life that demand our attention and keep us focused on the superficial details of getting through another day.<\/p>\n
The things in life that we worry about are not evil by nature, often they are simply tasks that need to be done. The problem is when we allow them to distract us from what is really important, when we allow them to choke out the truth of the gospel in our hearts.<\/p>\n
Question: How do you keep the mundane from choking out the gospel in your life?<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
My first job was working for our neighbors pulling weeds. That summer I would make my way through our backyard and then up a little trail through the bushes that led to our neighbor\u2019s yard once or twice a week. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[31],"tags":[98,336,293],"class_list":["post-3963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing","tag-gospel","tag-what-if-book","tag-worry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/DSC07855.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3izZc-11V","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12512,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/what-if-chapter-3-what-is-worry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":0},"title":"“What if…” Chapter 3, What Is Worry?","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"August 21, 2020","format":"audio","excerpt":"Worry and anxiety are the weeds of the mind and spirit. Do nothing and they will grow! Leave them alone hoping that they will go away, and when you come back, they will be bigger and stronger than before. Eventually they crowd out everything else and do real damage to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12316,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/9-things-christians-shouldnt-do-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":1},"title":"9 Things Christians Shouldn\u2019t Do During the Coronavirus Pandemic","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"March 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Do a quick google search of \u201chow to avoid the Coronavirus\u201d and you\u2019ll find a lot of interesting advice on what you should and shouldn\u2019t do. Some suggest drinking lots of water, others say you should gargle with vinegar, still others advocate getting the regular flu vaccine. Will any of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_319060259.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_319060259.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_319060259.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_319060259.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_319060259.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12385,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/what-if-chapter-2-how-we-start\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":2},"title":"“What if…” Chapter 1, How We Start","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"April 9, 2020","format":"audio","excerpt":"Friends many people are struggling with worry, fear and anxiety during these unusual times. I decided to record a few chapters from by book \"What if... How to Kill Worry and Anxiety Before They Kill You.\" I hope this recording will help calm your worries and anxieties. I hope you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/AdobeStock_331681082.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/AdobeStock_331681082.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/AdobeStock_331681082.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/AdobeStock_331681082.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/AdobeStock_331681082.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12565,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/what-if-chapter-4-concern-vs-worry\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":3},"title":"“What if…” Chapter 4, Concern vs Worry","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"September 2, 2020","format":"audio","excerpt":"As with any sin, worry is a perversion of something that was originally good. So how do you know when your planning has crossed the line into worry, or when your concern for safety has gone overboard and turned into an unhealthy fear? Friends many people are struggling with worry,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "The Gospel Today"","block_context":{"text":"The Gospel Today","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-5.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-5.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-5.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Untitled-design-5.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4086,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/33-the-churchs-acceptable-sins\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":4},"title":"#33 The Church’s Acceptable Sins","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"June 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Every time and every culture has certain sins that it excuses, ignores or tries to justify. 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In this episode of Now is the Time\u00a0I talk about the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/DSC07138-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/DSC07138-001.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/DSC07138-001.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4281,"url":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/34-why-gods-will-isnt-the-safest-place-to-be\/","url_meta":{"origin":3963,"position":5},"title":"#34 Why God’s Will Isn’t the Safest Place to Be!","author":"Caleb Suko","date":"August 22, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Is God's will really the safest place you can be? If it's not a safe place then how can you keep from worrying about your own safety? In this episode of \"Now Is the Time\"\u00a0I share with you a personal example from my life when I was very worried for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ministry"","block_context":{"text":"Ministry","link":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/category\/ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/DSC08260.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/DSC08260.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sukofamily.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/DSC08260.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3963"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4215,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3963\/revisions\/4215"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sukofamily.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}