The Parable of the Sower, which appears in the Gospels of Matthew (13:1-23), Mark (4:1-20), and Luke (8:4-15), highlights the significance of a suitable environment. This parable, delivered by Jesus, employs the image of a sower distributing seeds to demonstrate the various types of contexts in which the Word of God can be received and how these environments influence spiritual growth. Also, the various kinds of grounds in which the seeds were received represent an environment that attributed to what the seeds became.
The Parable of the Sower
Scripture Passage (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23)
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’ … ‘Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
When a farmer sets out to sow his seeds, he always selects the best seeds in order to ensure a bountiful harvest. However, it is equally important that the environment in which the seeds are planted be conducive to growth. In a poor environment, no matter the quality of the seeds, a harvest will never be realized. The environment is therefore as critical as the seed itself. The environment is as much important as the seed itself! As Jesus taught on the parable he gave various kinds of environment in which the seed fell but not all of them gave a harvest to the farmer. The seed was not the issue that caused failure or success of the seed but the environment was.
The great apostle spoke about the importance of a good environment when he said “Do not be misled: “Bad company/environment corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Within the environment lies a support system that feeds the seed to either become a failure or a success. It should be understood that evil always strives better in an evil environment and the reason being the environment is conducive for the growth of every evil entity operating in it. There was once a king in Israel who was sorrounded by the wrong people and because they were his friends they advised him wrongly and he lost a kingdom which his father had worked hard to build. The reason why many people have failed to become great in various apsects of their lives is that within their environment there wasnt any support system that fed into what they wanted to become. Its always hard for one to become opposite of the environment they are comfortable in.
The Environment is key if we are to be winners or losers; In the old testament potion of the bible a king and his men created an enviroment of fear and disbelief that noone was able to stand against a tyrant menace that haunted them daily for days. The bible says daily Goliath would come and challenge but saul and his men would fret away on their side of the battle field. However, when David came he was different that everyone other men in the army camp because he himself had cultured a different atmosphere. We learn that David was small, but from where came from he had been winning battles alone and he moved with that environment wherever he went. Even when he heard the tyrant Goliath speaking, he wasnt moved nor did he fret like every other men in the camp but he charged towards where the giant was.
Environments are subject to change, they can be managed to become what people want them to be. This we learn from science; we have what is called cloud seeding where crystals are dropped into clouds to cause rain. If the soil is not healthy enough for seed it can be prepared so that it changes its form that it be good enough for farming. The same way that is done to the environment, we can also do so in our lives so we have the right kind of atmosphere that helps in us having the best results in the things that we do.