The parable of the Sower is Jesus’ example of how people accept and believe in the “word” or the gospel of Jesus Christ. He described the word as a seed, and then He describes the types of ground in which the seed is planted. Wayside, stoney ground and ground infested with thorns are the three types of ground that will prevent the seed from growing and becoming fruitful. Jesus says that the “good ground” is where the word will flourish. This concept of growing plants in good ground is simple to grasp—plants need soil that is filled with nutrients; but, what does it mean for people to have good ground within them?
When Alma was teaching the Zoramites, he noticed a quality in the people who were willing to learn more from him, it states, “he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word” (Alma 32:6). Many of us are like these Zoramites, where we have been humbled, and we are willing to accept anything that will help us; we are willing to turn to Heavenly Father. This moment of humility is the key for us to grow the word of God within ourselves. However, afflictions do not always bring humility, that is why it is important to understand what humility is, without risking a disappointment or affliction causing us to turn away from God.
Jesus tells his disciples, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). A child is symbolic with humility because a child accepts what his or her parent says, they trust their parents for their welfare, they follow their parents’ example, they reciprocate the love they receive from their parents unconditionally, and they are accepting. King Benjamin expounds on this idea as well, “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3:19).
The best example of humility and becoming as a child is the life and mission of Jesus Christ. He is what it means to be as a little child: full of love, patience, humility, meekness, submissiveness and willing to submit to all things that His Father inflicted upon Him. It is important to remember that humility is the good ground for the word to grow, yet there is more that needs to happen for one to have that seed grow within themselves. I will discuss how to grow faith in my next post.
The Sower: Mark 4; Alma and the Zoramites: Alma 32
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