70 | Faithful Soil: Will All Christians Reap the Benefits of Heavenly Treasures?

What are you investing in that will last forever? While the world fixates on material possessions that rust and fade, Jesus offers a profound alternative path – storing up treasures in heaven through acts of faith, love, and obedience that create an eternal legacy.

This episode dives deep into Jesus's timeless parables, particularly the Parable of the Sower, which challenges us to examine our heart's receptivity to God's word. Are you the path where truth gets snatched away before taking root? The rocky ground showing initial excitement but lacking depth? The thorny soil where worldly concerns choke spiritual growth? Or the good soil that produces abundant fruit?

The key to cultivating good soil lies in intentional spiritual practices. We explore how prayer connects us directly to God, Scripture meditation reshapes our thinking, fellowship provides encouragement, and obedience demonstrates our love for God. These practices don't happen automatically – they require deliberate choices in a world filled with distractions and competing priorities.

Through honest self-examination and community support, we can identify and overcome barriers to spiritual growth: confronting sinful habits, setting boundaries with technology, prioritizing spiritual disciplines, embracing accountability, and serving others. Each choice to invest in heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones builds a legacy that transcends our limited time on earth.

Ready to deepen your faith and nurture spiritual growth? Schedule your Aroma of Christ coaching hour today at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching and discover how to craft a personalized devotional routine that transforms your quiet time from routine to joyful journey.

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Episode Transcript

Paula Behrens (00:00):
Welcome to today's show, where we will
delve into the profoundteachings of Jesus and explore
the timeless parables thatchallenge and inspire us to live
lives full of purpose andeternal significance.
As we contemplate the treasureswe are storing up in heaven,
let us consider how each act offaith and love contributes to a
legacy that transcends thisearthly life.

(00:22):
Join me now as we uncover thedeeper meaning behind two of
Jesus' powerful parables anddiscover how we can ensure that
we are indeed among those whowill reap the joy produced by
these everlasting treasures.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?

(00:44):
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God, but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church

(01:06):
congregations full time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized, but, truth be told,
there were mornings I couldbarely find five minutes to
catch my breath, let alone diveinto deep reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes.
I realized that even in mychaos there was a lesson.

(01:27):
Embracing God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
Are you ready to infuse yourspiritual journey with a
peace-filled confidence?
I'd like to invite you toprayerfully consider investing
just one hour to deepen yourfaith and nurture your spiritual

(01:48):
growth.
In your Aroma of Christcoaching hour, you will discover
how to craft a personalizeddevotional routine that will fit
perfectly into your busyschedule and learn tried and
true strategies to experienceyour quiet time with God not
just as a routine, but as ajoyful journey.
Schedule your call now atpaulabehrens.
com/ coaching.

(02:10):
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
In Matthew, chapter 6, verse 20,Jesus encourages us to store up

(02:34):
for ourselves treasure inheaven where moth and rust
cannot destroy and where thievescannot break in and steal.
This is a reminder thateverything we do in this life,
every good thing that bringsglory to God in this life, is
never wasted.
Instead, it is preserved for usin heaven.
Consider the immense value of atreasure that cannot rust, be

(02:56):
stolen or ruined.
This heavenly treasure is notcomposed of worldly wealth or
material possessions, but of thegood works we accomplish
through faith, acts of love,kindness and compassion, that
reflect God's heart.
Each time we serve our neighbor, share the Gospel or live in
obedience to God's Word, we areadding to this treasure trove.
These treasures are not onlyour gifts to God.

(03:20):
They are also blessings thatare destined to bring us joy
when we are finally in hiseternal presence.
Imagine standing before theLord and seeing the impact of
your faith-filled life,realizing that every prayer,
every sacrifice, every gestureof love mattered and will be
cherished for eternity.
Let us be encouraged that noact is too small when it is done

(03:43):
for the glory of God.
All these deeds are of infiniteworth in the eyes of our
heavenly Father, and he isholding them in a safe place
until we are each called to ourheavenly eternal home.
Will you be among those toenjoy these great treasures?
I hope so.
With that thought in mind,let's explore another parable of
Jesus that will help us todetermine whether we will be

(04:06):
among those or not.
The parable of the sower, asrecounted in Matthew 13, Mark 4,
and Luke 8, is one of Jesus'most well-known parables.
In this story, Jesus uses themetaphor of a sower scattering
seeds on different types of soilto illustrate how people
receive and respond to themessage of the Kingdom of God.

(04:26):
The sower represents God orthose who share the message of
the Gospel.
The seed symbolizes the Word ofGod, the message of the Kingdom
of God or the Gospel itself.
And the soil represents thecondition of the human heart or
the receptiveness of people toGod's Word.
And then there are differenttypes of soil.
The path, or the hard ground,symbolizes those who hear the

(04:51):
word but do not understand it.
Their hearts are hardened likea path, making it easy for Satan
to snatch away the messagebefore it can even take root.
These are people who areindifferent or resistant to the
Gospel.
The rocky ground representsthose who initially received the
word with joy but have no depthof character.
They lack spiritual roots, sowhen trials or persecutions

(05:14):
arise because of the word, theyquickly fall away.
These are the people who have asuperficial or emotional
response to the Gospel, but lacktrue commitment.
The thorny ground symbolizesthose who hear the word but
allow the cares of this world,the deceitfulness of wealth, and
the desires for other things tochoke out the message.

(05:35):
Their hearts are preoccupiedwith worldly concerns, leaving
little room for spiritual growth.
These are people whose livesare dominated by materialism,
worries, and distractions whichhinder their response to the
Gospel.
The good soil represents thosewho hear the word, understand it
and produce a fruitful response.
Their hearts are receptive andopen to God's Word, allowing it

(05:59):
to take fruit deeply and bearfruit in their lives.
These are people who respond tothe Gospel with genuine faith,
resulting in transformed livesand abundant spiritual
fruitfulness.
This is who we want to be.
As a believer it's crucial foryou to regularly examine the
condition of your heart inrelation to God's Word.

(06:19):
The parable prompts you to askyourself, am I truly receptive
to God's Word, or are therebarriers hindering its growth in
my life?
This introspection requireshonesty and humility as you
assess whether your heart isopen and responsive, hardened
and resistant, or somewhere inbetween towards God's Word.

(06:41):
Now, I know this is probably achallenge to you.
It is to me, but it's soimportant to examine our hearts
each and every day.
Are you allowing God's Word topenetrate deeply into your heart
, taking root and producingfruit, or are you hindered by
hardness, shallowness ordistractions?
This self-assessment encouragesyou to acknowledge areas where

(07:03):
you may be lacking in spiritualdepth or where worldly concerns
may be choking your spiritualgrowth.
The parable reminds us of theimportance of cultivating a
receptive heart throughintentional spiritual
disciplines.
Okay, so how do we do that?
Well, there are four majorthings you can do daily to
cultivate a receptive heart.

(07:24):
Here they are.
Prayer.
As a direct line ofcommunication to God, prayer
allows you to align your heartwith his will and seek his
guidance in understanding andapplying his Word.
And then there's meditation, onscripture especially, which
involves immersing yourself inGod's Word allowing it to dwell
richly in you and shape yourthoughts, attitudes and actions.

(07:47):
Fellowship with other believersprovides encouragement, as well
as accountability and support inyour spiritual journey.
Through meaningfulrelationships within the body of
Christ, you can share insights,experiences and challenges,
spurring one another on towardsspiritual growth.
This is where your Sundaymorning worship comes in and is
so very important to worship theLord together.

(08:09):
And, of course, obedience toGod's Word is a vital part of
cultivating a receptive heart.
It involves not only hearing orreading the Word but also
actively applying it to yourlife.
Obedience demonstrates yourlove for God and your desire to
align your life with hispurposes, resulting in spiritual
transformation and fruitfulness.

(08:31):
Are you ready to delve into keyareas you can focus on to
nurture a life that bearsabundant spiritual fruit?
Let's begin with understandingand confronting sinful habits.
Sin acts as a barrier thatseparates us from God,
inhibiting our spiritual growth.
It's like a weed in the gardenof our soul, choking off
nourishment and light, whetherit's pride, greed, lust, anger

(08:55):
or any other sinful behavior,confronting and overcoming these
habits is crucial for ourspiritual well-being.
This process starts with honestself-reflection.
It requires taking a hard lookat ourselves in the light of
God's truth and acknowledgingwhere we've strayed from his
path.
It's about asking God for thecourage to see our shortcomings

(09:18):
without defensiveness or denial.
Confession then follows, asincere admission to God of
where we have fallen short,coupled with repentance, which
involves turning away from sinand choosing a new direction
aligned with God's will.
Yet this isn't a battle we fightalone.
We rely deeply on God's gracefor transformation.

(09:40):
It is his power that enables usto overcome, to resist the hold
of temptation and to walk innewness of life.
By actively seeking to root outsin from our lives, we create
space for the Holy Spirit tooperate, shaping us into vessels
of righteousness.
Our next focus is on overcomingdistractions, a significant

(10:04):
challenge in today's fast-pacedworld for sure.
Distractions abound, pullingour attention away from God and
his Word.
Whether it's the endless buzzof technology, worldly pursuits
or the cares of life, thesedistractions can significantly
hinder our spiritual growth.
To overcome distractions, wemust be intentional in our

(10:25):
efforts.
This might mean settingboundaries with technology,
possibly having specific timeswhen you unplug from devices or
engage in quiet reflection andprayer.
Prioritizing time for prayerand Bible study is crucial.
I recommend starting or endingyour day with these enriching
practices, using calmingessential oils to anchor your

(10:47):
daily routine with a spiritualfocus.
Incorporating Young Livingaromas has been incredibly
beneficial for me in cultivatinga deeper sense of peace and
purpose throughout my days.
Another effective strategy isdeveloping a mindset centered on
mindfulness and presence.
This means choosing to be fullyfocused on where God has placed

(11:08):
you, attentive to his presencein each and every moment.
As you master the discipline ofquieting the noise of the
world, your heart will becomemore receptive to Jesus' leading
and guidance.
Now let's discuss the importanceof prioritizing spiritual
disciplines.
Our spiritual growth flourishesin the soil of consistent

(11:30):
practices like prayer,meditation on scripture, worship
, fasting, fellowship with otherbelievers and serving others.
These are essential practices,nourishing our souls and
deepening our relationship withGod.
In the busyness of life,however, these disciplines often
get sidetracked.

(11:51):
Prioritizing them requiresintentional commitment and
sacrifice.
It involves carving outdedicated time in your schedule
for communion with God, evenwhen it feels inconvenient or
challenging.
Think of it as making aninvestment in your spiritual
health, a choice to put yourspiritual needs on par with, or

(12:11):
even above, other life pursuits.
As you engage consistently inspiritual disciplines, you open
yourself to the transformingwork of the Holy Spirit.
It's in this inner space ofregular communion with God that
the Spirit molds you into Christlikeness, shaping your
character, fortifying your faithand equipping you to bear much

(12:35):
fruit that glorifies God.
Additionally, embracingcommunity and accountability is
a powerful mechanism forovercoming barriers to spiritual
growth.
You know we were never meant towalk this spiritual journey
alone.
Being part of a community oflike-minded believers offers
support, encouragement andaccountability, helping us to

(12:56):
stay on the right path, the pathof spiritual growth.
Accountability involvesinviting others to walk with us,
to speak into our lives withtruth and love, helping us to
confront areas where we might beslipping into old sinful
patterns.
It provides a supportiveframework where confession,
encouragement and counsel cantake place, a true embodiment of

(13:20):
iron sharpening iron.
Regular fellowship with otherbelievers, whether through
church services, small groups orinformal gatherings, enriches
our faith journey.
It reminds us of our sharedpurpose and strengthens our
resolve by providing mutualsupport and understanding,
making the path of spiritualgrowth less daunting and more

(13:41):
fulfilling.
Lastly, let's talk aboutembracing a life of service.
Serving others is not just acommendable act.
It's a vital component ofspiritual growth.
When we look beyond our ownneeds and seek to meet the needs
of others, we become conduitsof God's love and grace.
Service can be a humblingexperience that strips us of our

(14:01):
self-centeredness and remindsus of the greater purpose we
serve.
It teaches us compassion,patience and love, reflecting
the very nature of Christhimself.
Through the acts of service,whether small or large, we
engage with the heart of God,fostering a spiritual growth
that will ripple outward toaffect the community around us.

(14:21):
By integrating these elementsinto our lives, we create an
environment where spiritualgrowth can flourish, much like a
well-tended garden.
This journey requirescommitment, patience and the
understanding that growthinvolves sometimes uncomfortable
change and struggles.
However, it leads to a lifeoverflowing with the fruit of

the Spirit (14:41):
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness andself-control, fruit that not
only bless our lives but touchthe lives of those around us.
In conclusion, recognizing andaddressing barriers to our
spiritual growth is an ongoingprocess.
It's a journey.
Just as a farmer mustcontinually tend his fields,

(15:04):
removing weeds and fertilizingsoil, we too must consistently
evaluate our lives, addressinganything that threatens to
impede our spiritual maturityand fruitfulness.
As we confront sinful habits,overcome distractions,
prioritize spiritual disciplines, embrace community and
accountability, and engage inservice, we allow the Holy

(15:27):
Spirit to cultivate within us alife that bears much fruit, all
to the glory of God.
Remember, the path to spiritualgrowth is deeply personal and
unique.
So listen to the gentlepromptings of the Spirit and
trust that, with time anddevotion, you will indeed bear

(15:49):
much fruit.
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember just like setting
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you've enjoyed this episode,we would truly appreciate it if
you would take just a fewmoments to follow the show and

(16:10):
leave a review.
Also, prayerfully, considerinvesting just one hour to
deepen your faith and nurtureyour spiritual growth.
In your Aroma of Christcoaching hour, you will discover
how to craft a personalizeddevotional routine that will fit
perfectly into your busyschedule and learn tried and
true strategies to experienceyour quiet time with God, not

(16:32):
just as a routine but as ajoyful journey.
Schedule your call now atPaulaBehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula Behrens,B-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
Be sure to check the show notesfor all the links.
Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live

(16:55):
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intohim and walking in his wisdom.
See you next time.