Matthew 13:7-NIV
“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”
Choked by Thorns: When Life’s Lies Strangle God’s Truth
Have you ever wondered why some people hear the Word of God and yet choose to reject it? Or why some hearts are stirred to believe and follow Jesus while others turn away? I’ve wrestled with these questions over the years. And in the midst of pondering, I’ve felt overwhelming gratitude, gratitude that God chose to open my heart to receive His truth. Without His grace, I could have easily become an enemy of God, just like Satan.
James 4:4 makes it plain:
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
It is humbling to realize that our salvation is not a result of anything we have done, but rather a gift of God’s mercy. As Christians, we should never forget where we were when Jesus called us, lost, wandering, and in desperate need of a Savior. It is a privilege to be counted among His sheep (John 10:27-28), and it is solely by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Jesus explains this parable further in Matthew 13:22:
“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.”
These “thorns” represent the subtle traps Satan uses to turn our focus from God. In my podcast, Sacred Journey of a Spiritual Warrior, I teach extensively on how Satan and his demonic forces disguise themselves in the comforts and distractions of life, luring souls to trade eternal truth for temporary gain. As Revelation 20:10 warns, those who follow Satan’s deception share in his fate, the lake of burning sulfur.
One of Satan’s most deceitful tools is the promise of wealth. He even tried to use this tactic on Jesus during the wilderness temptation in Matthew 4:8-10, offering Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him. But Jesus rejected the lie—and so must we. Depending on where you are in the world, Satan tailors his deception to fit your environment. In wealth-driven cultures, he promotes the illusion that money is the solution to all problems; that without it, you’re unseen, unheard, or unworthy. You have likely heard the saying, “Money talks.” But hear me: money cannot talk your way into Heaven.
Scripture never says that money itself is sinful. It’s the love of money that is dangerous. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” —1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)
Even the Prodigal Son was not destroyed by his wealth, but by the condition of his heart.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.” —Luke 15:13 (NIV)
He allowed wealth and self-indulgence to lead him away from his father—just as many today allow prosperity to lead them away from God. And sadly, some ministries shift from Holy Spirit-filled missions to status-driven enterprises, exchanging holiness for popularity and power.Let’s be clear: this parable is not just a caution for the rich; it’s a warning to anyone whose heart is driven by a desire for wealth, recognition, or worldly success. You may not have much, but if you believe money will give your life meaning, you’re just as vulnerable to the thorns.
Satan is clever. He’ll use poverty to make you idolize wealth, and wealth to make you forget God. Either way, his goal is the same: to choke the Word of God out of your life and make you unfruitful.
There’s an old hip-hop lyric I remember from the ‘90s that said:
“Mo Money, Mo Problems.”
And it’s true, because if our hearts are not anchored in Christ, money only magnifies the lies we already believe.
So, ask yourself today: What lies has Satan planted in your mind that are choking the truth of God’s Word?
Is it fear? Pride? The pressure to be someone in the world’s eyes? A desire to escape your current pain?
Bring those thorns to Jesus. Let Him uproot what’s choking your spiritual growth so that the seed of God’s Word may take root and bear fruit in your life.
