Christly Living

 

  Tue Feb 25, 2025  

THE STONY GROUND

Memorise:
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. .. Mark 4:5

Read:
Mark 4:16-17

Message

In continuation of my discussion from yesterday about the different kinds of soils, I will examine stony grounds today. The major problem with a stony ground is that it does not retain water sufficiently for the seeds planted in it to grow. Water is needed for seeds to germinate; even though it is God who will determine the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).

In Amos 4:7-8, the Lord said that if He decides to withhold the rain, a city will soon go into famine and will start begging another city, where it has continued to rain, for food. When people invest in ventures that God is not involved in, they are planting seeds on stony grounds. When you consider such ventures carefully, you will realize that they are designed to attract and fool only greedy and desperate people. In my lifetime, I have seen many Ponzi schemes come and go, and I warn those close to me to desist from them. Some listen, but others do not, and they suffer when they lose their money.

God is and remains our Supplier; when we apply Biblical principles and work diligently with our hands, He will prosper us. Any investment that goes against Biblical principles, such as hard work, diligence, faithfulness, patience, and contentment, is a stony ground. Those who hasten to be rich will not be innocent, and such people will end up piercing themselves through with many sorrows.

   A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.    ...Proverbs 28:20

   For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.    ...1 Timothy 6:10

Beloved, you must guard your heart against greed and covetousness. You must be content with what you have while working diligently so that God can bless the works of your hands. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, allowed greed to rule him, and he ended up inheriting leprosy. While he could have inherited a double portion of Elisha's anointing, he subjected himself and his lineage to a lifetime of shame, seclusion, and frustration (2 Kings 5:20-27).

Beloved, greed, impatience, and not following God's instructions can lead you to sow on stony grounds. Sowing on stony grounds cannot produce good harvests; it will only lead to frustration. I pray that the Lord will show you the right places to sow, in Jesus' name.

Bible In One Year:
Deuteronomy 12-15

Hymn:
In Christ Alone

Prayer Point:
Father, help me not to sow on stony grounds. Please guide my sowing and bless the work of my hands, in Jesus' name.

King James Version

Mark 4:16-17

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
RCCG Hymn

In Christ Alone

  1. In Christ alone my hope is found
    He is my light, my strength, my song
    This Cornerstone, this solid ground
    Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
    What heights of love, what depths of peace
    When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
    My Comforter, my All in All
    Here in the love of Christ I stand
  2. In Christ alone, who took on flesh
    Fullness of God in helpless Babe
    This gift of love and righteousness
    Scomed by the ones He came to save
    'Til on that cross as Jesus died
    The wrath of God was satisfied
    For every sin on Him was laid
    Here in the death of Christ I live, I live
  3. There in the ground His body lay
    Light of the world by darkness slain
    Then bursting forth in glorious Day
    Up from the grave He rose again
    And as He stands in victory
    Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
    For I am His and He is mine
    Bought with the precious blood of Christ
  4. No guilt in life, no fear in death
    This is the power of Christ in me
    From a life's first cry to final breath
    Jesus commands my destiny
    No power of hell, no scheme of man
    Could ever pluck me from His hand
    'Til He retums or calls me home
    Here in the power of Christ I stand

 

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