READ: Mark 4:3-20
“And the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” – Mark 4:19
The verb “to choke” means: To block, or obstruct a passage or process. Some Christians become so occupied with other things that they no longer have time for the things of God.
Read the text again, and notice that even the normal, everyday cares of life can retard your spiritual progress. The demands of your job, for example, or the pressures of academic work, or the challenges of bringing up little children. Unfortunately, many Christians allow the blessing of marriage to choke the Word, and they end up no longer being useful to God.
In fact, some Christians are so mindful of the cares of this world, that all they have to offer are excuses. What about the Lord’s work? Really, if you are too busy to be involved in winning souls, then you are simply too busy!
As God blesses and promotes us in this world, He does not intend that it should keep us from doing His work. We must rather overcome these potential chokers and continue being fruitful in His vineyard.
Oh, I look forward to the day when the church’s regular drummer will still be playing the drums, though he would have become the Minister for Foreign Affairs; when women will rise up to be pastors, despite the fact that they have to raise four kids at home; when ushers will still be at it, even when they have become multimillionaires. I look forward to the day when the cares of this world will not choke the Word!