“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:11-15 KJV).
Why Some People Quit
Ever since the church began, some who have obeyed the Gospel, thus being added by the Lord to the church, have failed to remain faithful. They, like the Ephesians, “have left their first love” (Revelation 2:4). Likely, there are some motivations for departures with which I am not familiar, but some are very apparent. Some apostatize because they cease to value Truth and become ensnared in false doctrines and practices (II Thessalonians 2:10–12; I Timothy 1:19–20; 4:1; II Timothy 4:3–4; et al.). Others hear the siren-call of fleshly lusts and, unlike Moses, choose to enjoy the “pleasures of sin for a season,” forgetting the inevitable day of recompense (Hebrews 11:25–26; I Corinthians 5:1–5; II Corinthians 12:21; II Timothy 3:1–6; Jude 4; et al.).
Others who drop out do not do so because of such drastic factors. They depart for what one might refer to as more “personal” or “subjective” reasons, several of which I have heard over the years. In hopes that discussion of some of these might prevent someone from backsliding and losing his soul, consider the following:
- Guilt: When one knows he is not living as Christ teaches us to live during the week, he should feel guilty and ashamed when he comes into his Bible class or into the worship assembly. His guilt and shame leave him with two choices: He can confess and repent of his sin, or he can continue in it. One who continues in sin will not long faithfully assemble where Biblical preaching and teaching remind him of his guilt. If he is unwilling to abandon his sin, he will abandon the church by making no pretense at being religious or he will “shop at being religious or he will “shop around” for a “feel-good church” with a “feel-good at being religious or he will “shop gospel” (joining a “guilt-free church” that allows people to maintain membership and hold on to their sins is merely another way of abandoning the Truth—and the church). Unwillingness to give up sin (and the resulting guilt) has caused many to “quit the church.”
- Personal dislike for someone in the congregation: Often it is the preacher, an elder, or a teacher—usually someone in a leadership role—who stirs such disfavor. We all have enough faults to be unlikable to someone else at times (e.g., I do not like the behavior of those who quit because they do not “like” someone). Guess what? You do not have to like every member of the church to be a faithful Christian (nor does everyone in the congregation have to like you). God must often dislike the behavior of even the best of us, but He still loves us and desires our salvation. Likewise, it is not necessarily wrong for us to dislike and irritate one another at times in matters of opinion and personal choice, as long as we still love one another enough to seek the good of each other. “Quitting the church,” thereby losing one’s soul, is a high price to pay because “I do not like someone.”
- The claim of “too many hypocrites” in the church: Perhaps all Christians (including preachers and elders) have at least been inconsistent, if not hypocritical at times. Even the best find it impossible to live flawlessly the flawless message we preach. I dare say that the one who charges, “There are too many hypocrites,” is himself hypocritical once in a while. There is no defense for hypocrisy, but which is worse—to continue to faithfully assemble and work with other imperfect saints, knowing that one’s own life is not perfect, or to drop out and lose one’s soul? Besides, the presence of one or one hundred hypocrites has nothing to do with one’s relationship with God unless he allows it to do so. Hell will be the eternal abode of impenitent hypocrites (Matthew 24:51). The one who so despises them here that he departs from the Lord rather than associate with them will condemn himself to inescapable association with them in eternity.
Many other “reasons” for quitting are observable, but they all stem from uncontrolled selfishness (Romans 15:1–3; II Corinthians 5:15; Philippians 2:4, 21; II Timothy 3:2). The quitter will return only when he gets selfishness under control.
Dub McClish
The Lure of Money
Jesus in Matthew 6 is not giving attention to the luxuries of life. He does not in this passage point our attention to some things, but “all these things.” Jesus in this context has discussed material possessions as potential idols that are worshiped and served. In verse 24 Jesus tells of the impossibility of serving two gods. We cannot divide our allegiance between two gods. Jesus states clearly, “for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” There is no middle ground. Religiously we cannot occupy middle ground. Religion is a “love” or “hate” relationship.
Of all that could be named as an illustration of “another god,” Jesus said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon means “money and what money can buy, possessions.” Perhaps man’s greatest threat to idolatry is money and possessions. Perhaps the lure of materialism is man’s greatest weakness. Men need to know of the danger of “these things.” Men need to know that materialism is not something to be shrugged off as if it does not matter. Materialism is idolatry!
Possessions can keep us out of Heaven. “Covetousness…is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Calvin accurately wrote, “Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.” According to Jesus in Matthew 6, our treasure is either in Heaven or on Earth, our lives are either full of light or darkness, our master is either God or mammon. There are other warnings about the lure of possessions.
A familiar parable begins with these words of warning (and the theme of the parable): “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). In this parable of the rich farmer we are introduced to a man whose crops had been so abundant that he had no place to store them. His solution to the problem was to pull down his barns and build bigger ones. His attitude was, “take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (v. 19) because he viewed life as good for many years to come. He believed that his life was determined by things. He was wrong. God corrected his impression: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vv. 19–21).
Paul points us to the same danger:” For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). In another familiar parable the sower sowed seed in thorny ground. Jesus interprets this portion of the parable for us: “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14, emph. LK).
Notice carefully that the seed, which is the Word of God, is sown into the heart where it is eventually “choked” by the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” It is interesting to observe that our word worry comes from an old German word which means “to choke, to strangle.” Worry usually has to do with these very things, the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life. We are physically affected by worry so we choke and strangle. These same things can affect us spiritually in a similar way. The growth of God’s Word in our lives is choked by the “cares, and riches and pleasures of this life.” When this life becomes more important to us than the life which is to come, then the process of choking has begun.
In Matthew 6 Christ was not speaking of the extras, the luxuries of life. The questions He asks suggest that the very essentials of life can become so important to us that they can keep us from being saved. His questions have to do with food, drink, and clothing. If we can place too much importance on our needs, then how much more dangerous are the “wants” of life.
Lester Kamp
Of all that could be named as an illustration of “another god,” Jesus said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon means “money and what money can buy, possessions.” Perhaps man’s greatest threat to idolatry is money and possessions. Perhaps the lure of materialism is man’s greatest weakness. Men need to know of the danger of “these things.” Men need to know that materialism is not something to be shrugged off as if it does not matter. Materialism is idolatry!
Possessions can keep us out of Heaven. “Covetousness…is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Calvin accurately wrote, “Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.” According to Jesus in Matthew 6, our treasure is either in Heaven or on Earth, our lives are either full of light or darkness, our master is either God or mammon. There are other warnings about the lure of possessions.
A familiar parable begins with these words of warning (and the theme of the parable): “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). In this parable of the rich farmer we are introduced to a man whose crops had been so abundant that he had no place to store them. His solution to the problem was to pull down his barns and build bigger ones. His attitude was, “take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (v. 19) because he viewed life as good for many years to come. He believed that his life was determined by things. He was wrong. God corrected his impression: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vv. 19–21).
Paul points us to the same danger:” For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10). In another familiar parable the sower sowed seed in thorny ground. Jesus interprets this portion of the parable for us: “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14, emph. LK).
Notice carefully that the seed, which is the Word of God, is sown into the heart where it is eventually “choked” by the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” It is interesting to observe that our word worry comes from an old German word which means “to choke, to strangle.” Worry usually has to do with these very things, the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life. We are physically affected by worry so we choke and strangle. These same things can affect us spiritually in a similar way. The growth of God’s Word in our lives is choked by the “cares, and riches and pleasures of this life.” When this life becomes more important to us than the life which is to come, then the process of choking has begun.
In Matthew 6 Christ was not speaking of the extras, the luxuries of life. The questions He asks suggest that the very essentials of life can become so important to us that they can keep us from being saved. His questions have to do with food, drink, and clothing. If we can place too much importance on our needs, then how much more dangerous are the “wants” of life.
Lester Kamp
The Crossroads
Lord, I am at the crossroads! O help me choose aright,
For blinded is my vision, and darker grows the night;
Lord, help me in my weakness, I would not go astray;
One road is broad and luring, one is the “narrow way.”
Lord, I am at the crossroads! It is my hour of trial;
One leads to wealth and honor, one leads to self_denial;
The gods of earth are seeking to win me to their side;
But O, thou God of Heaven, I would with Thee abide!
Lord, I am at the crossroads! One road is very fair,
And they that tread its mosses are decked with jewels rare;
I hear their careless laughter, their songs and revelry;
But ah! this road of pleasure leads far away from Thee.
Lord, I am at the crossroads! One road is rough and bare;
I see the crimson blood_drops of One who traveled there;
He drank the cup of sorrow that flooded o'er the brim;
But He is crowned the Victor – and I will walk with Him!
E. Louise Umlauf
(Gospel Digest - December 1958)
The Lure of Money
Jesus in Matthew 6 is not giving attention to the luxuries of life. He does not in this passage point our attention to some things, but “all these things.” Jesus in this context has discussed material possessions as a potential idol that is worshiped and served. In verse 24, Jesus tells of the impossibility of serving two gods. We cannot divide our allegiance between two gods.
Jesus states clearly, “for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (6:24). There is no middle ground. Religiously we cannot occupy middle ground. Religion is a “love” or “hate” relationship.
Of all that could be named as an illustration of “another god” that could have been named, Jesus, in this verse, said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Mammon means “money and what money can buy, possessions.” Perhaps man’s greatest threat to idolatry is here, in money and possessions. Perhaps the lure of materialism is man’s greatest weakness. Man needs to know of the danger of “these things.” Man needs to know that materialism is not something to be shrugged off as if it does not matter.
Materialism is idolatry! Possessions can keep us out of heaven. “Covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). Calvin accurately wrote, “Where riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost His authority.” According to Jesus in Matthew 6, our treasure is either in heaven or on earth, our life is either full of light or darkness, our master is either God or mammon. This is not our only warning about the lure of possessions.
A familiar parable begins with these words of warning and the theme of the parable, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). In the parable of the rich, young ruler, we are introduced to a prospering young man. His crops had been so abundant that he had no place to store them. His solution to the problem was to pull down his barns and build bigger ones. His attitude was, “take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (12:19) because his life was good for many years to come because of the quantity of his possessions. He believed that his life was determined by things. He was wrong. God corrected his impression, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:19-21). Paul points us to the same danger, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (I Timothy 6:10).
In another familiar parable the sower sows seed in thorny ground. Jesus interprets this portion of the parable for us. He states, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Luke 8:14). Notice carefully that the seed which is the Word of God is sown into the heart where it is eventually “choked” by the “cares and riches and pleasures of this life.” It is interesting to observe here that the word for worry comes from an old German word which means “to choke, to strangle.” Worry usually has to do with these very things, the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life. We are physically affected by worry so we choke and strangle. These same things can affect us spiritually in a similar way. The growth of God’s Word in our lives is choked by the “cares, and riches and pleasures of this life.”
When this life becomes more important to us than the life which is to come then the process of choking has begun. Christ here is not speaking of the extras, the luxuries of life. The questions He gives suggest the very essentials of life can become so important to us that they can keep us from being saved. His questions have to do with food, drink, and clothing. If we can place too much importance on these things, then how much more dangerous are the “wants” of life available to us.
Lester Kamp