What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams. This famous parable explains one of the most important laws of the universe. This parable holds true in baseball, marriage, advertising, and certainly business in general.
The story is typically known as “The Parable of the Sower.” But don’t you also believe it could be called “The Parable of the Soils.” As the story is being interpreted there is an emphasis the different kinds of soils and how differently they receive the seed, which seems to be a law of the universe.
In business I’ve seen the truth of the story played out again and again. Sowing the good news, people have received the exact same message in such different ways. Some reject it without a second thought. Some are excited, but soon lose their enthusiasm. Others respond with genuine interest, but their attachments to this world soon strangle their commitment. And then there are still others who hear, believe, and live a life others only imagine for themselves.
Perhaps the most crucial ingredient of good soil is openness to the laws of the universe, genuine desire for goodness and a willingness to do the right things in your life. Such openness comes as we recognize our need for God, and as we respond to the pull of God’s Spirit on our hearts.
So I’m wondering what kind of soil is your company and what kind of soil are you? Has your soil condition changed? Business conditions sure have. Is your business and your life producing the fruit?