Sowing and Reaping in Health: What Kind of Soil Are You?

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“A farmer went out to sow his seed… Some fell along the path… some on rocky places… some among thorns… still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop…” (Mat 13:3–8, excerpted).

Have you ever wondered what this parable was really talking about? If so, you are not alone. Even the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke to the people in parables that might not have been easily relatable to or understood.

The interpretation and application of this parable that Jesus provides in verses 18-23 gives us tremendous insight into the importance of our active participation with God’s Word—the seed—and not being just hearers only. It’s about the condition of our hearts—the soil—and what happens when the seed of God’s Word tries to take root in us.

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The seed is the same every time: full of life, power, truth, and promise. It’s not a genetically modified seed or a seed that has been so altered that it is now sterile and unable to replicate. God’s seed-word is healthy, wholesome, and healing, and has the inherent ability to multiply exponentially. This is so very important when it comes to our health and wellness.

So, what, then, determines the crop, if not the seed? The condition of the land, which is our hearts and minds. Just like in the natural, the condition of the soil determines the yield. When the land is not well tended, watered, and nourished, the quantity, quality, and nutritive value of the crop is negatively affected.

🌾 Four Kinds of Soil — Which One Describes You?

1. Seed Along the Path

“As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.”

The seed never had a chance—it was snatched away before it could even begin to grow. Jesus says in verse 19, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary has this to say: “Careless, trifling hearers, are an easy prey to Satan; who, as he is the great murderer of souls, so he is the great thief of sermons, and will be sure to rob us of the word, if we take not care to keep it.” This is the person that hears the Word—through a sermon, a song, a conversation, or a blog post—and then does nothing with it. It’s the proverbial “it goes in one ear and out the other.”

There are a few keys here. Jesus says the problem occurs when someone hears but does not understand. Understanding is a cognitive process that requires thought and learning. If we understand something, we go beyond mere knowledge; we grasp the meaning or significance of it. The original Greek word for “understanding” in this verse means “to put together; to comprehend; to consider.” This means that we are able to connect the dots and apply the information to our lives in a profitable way.

This takes action on our part! We cannot just sit and hear the Word and expect to reap a harvest. This is what Matthew Henry is saying with being careless with the Word and not taking “care to keep it.” We must work with the Word to gain wisdom, insight, and understanding of God’s truth. If we don’t, satan is right there to snatch it away. He is the father of lies, and without understanding, we can all too easily be deceived, resulting in faith being aborted before it can even take root.

Jesus demonstrates the importance of understanding the Word in Luke 4 when being tempted by satan in the wilderness. In addition to being a liar, he is cunning and manipulative. With each temptation, Jesus’ response was the same: It is written… Having full knowledge and understanding of the Word of God is what allowed Jesus to stand against and overcome satan’s deceptive schemes.

Another insight is being aware of where the seed fell: a path. Think about a footpath through the woods. That soil is hardened. It has not been properly ploughed or prepared to receive the seed. This could represent the person who goes to church on Sunday out of duty only or for a public image—a form of holiness without any substance. It also could be someone whose heart has been hardened by pain, suffering, rejection, abuse, or disappointments and is not open and receptive to God’s love, healing power, and forgiveness.

From a health coaching perspective, this could be the person who is in denial and rejects the truth about a habit or condition. They may be experiencing signs and symptoms but would rather take a pill than take action. This is what we call the pre-contemplation stage of change. Usually, they have been encouraged by their family, friends, or physician that if they make lifestyle changes, their condition will improve. However, they are unwilling to change, often out of the belief that the habit or condition is not problematic.

💬 This represents the person who hears truth—maybe even feels convicted—but lets it go. It never sinks in. Maybe it's because of distraction, denial, discouragement, or disbelief.

In health, this might look like:

• Hearing a biblical message about honoring your body—but brushing it off as “not for me.”

• Feeling God’s nudge to take small steps of obedience—but allowing overwhelm or excuses to steal it away.

2. Rocky Soil

“Some fell on rocky places… it sprang up quickly… but when the sun came up… it withered because it had no root.”

Jesus’ interpretation is in verses 20-21: “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.” 

This is someone who receives truth joyfully but lacks any depth of faith. An example is someone going to a meeting where they hear the Word of God and come out feeling all excited and motivated, but it only lasts for a week or two and then dies out.

Rocky ground has just enough soil for a seed to sprout, but not enough to send its roots down deep in order to anchor itself and gain enough nutrients to grow, blossom, and bear fruit. So it is with someone who has superficial faith. They are not truly rooted in the word or in who they are in Christ Jesus. When the heat of challenges comes, they do not have the strength to persevere, and so any faith they do have withers away.

💬 This is the quick start without follow-through. The gym membership bought in January… the diet started on Monday… the good intentions that fizzle by Friday.

In health, this might look like:

• Starting strong in a new habit but quitting when it gets uncomfortable.

• Giving up because results aren’t immediate or easy.

3. Among Thorns

“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.”

Jesus says in verse 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.”

Here we see that the seed falls into some soil, as thorns also require soil to grow. There is enough soil for the seed to initially take root and start growing—the beginning of faith and the Christian’s journey and changed life. However, as time goes on, the thorns of “worries” and “wealth” begin to grow, crowding and choking out the plant.

What exactly are these thorns that tangle, entwine, scratch, and poke? The worries of this life can be stated as cares of this world. In other words, it is those things that distract us and divert us away from our Godly purpose and pursuing the things of God, His Kingdom, and His righteousness. As this happens, our priorities shift, becoming more ours and less God’s, and we begin to wander away from our “first love.” Instead of growing in our relationship and walk with the Lord, being transformed from glory to glory day-by-day, that growth is choked out and dies.

For the wealth, notice it says the “deceitfulness of wealth.” This is an important distinction. Wealth in itself is not bad. It’s how we view wealth that matters. The unfortunate truth is that money corrupts. It becomes an idol that we put our trust in to rescue, save, and care for us instead of God. In doing so, it negates the work of Calvary. It also becomes a status symbol, elevating us in importance and stature, causing us to become puffed up with pride and arrogance. Herein lies the deceit: when we value our wealth over God, when we rely on ourselves and our intellect and abilities, it hinders our devotion to God, becoming a barrier to spiritual growth. It can even cause us to walk away from God, affecting our eternal salvation, just like the rich young ruler in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Matthew Henry says, “Worldly cares are great hindrances to our profiting by the word of God, and our proficiency in religion. Prosperity destroys the word in the heart, as much as persecution does; and more dangerously, because more silently: the stones spoiled the root, the thorns spoil the fruit.”

1 Tim 6:10 (Ampl) says, “For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.”

💬 This is when we want to pursue health, but we also want comfort, convenience, and control. There’s no room for truth to flourish.

In health, this might look like:

• Allowing stress to dictate your eating, sleeping, or movement.

• Being too busy for intentional rest, nutrition, or self-care rooted in Scripture.

4. Good Soil

“Still other seed fell on good soil… it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Jesus says in verse 23, “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.” This takes us back to the definition of understanding that we learned in the seed that fell on the path.  

This is a heart that’s soft, surrendered, and ready. The Word of God lands, takes root, and produces good fruit over time. This is a disciple, not a convert: someone who makes room in their lives for knowing God as their first priority.

Jesus tells us in John 15:8 (Ampl): “When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.” What fruit is He talking about? Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit that is produced from the inner workings of Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Matthew Henry says, “We bear fruit when we practise according to the word; when the temper of our minds and the tenour of our lives are conformable to the gospel we have received, and we do as we are taught.”

Jesus never promises us a life without temptation or trials. In fact, He tells us that we will have these things. Our ground may become hard from drought and the scorching heat of the sun; we may have stones in the field when we plow and thorns that spring up. But the one who remains faithful despite temptations, rejection, and ridicule; who continues on in the face of disappointments and adversity; who chooses the narrow gate instead of the wide gate; who follows Christ and not social media influencers…this is the one who will bear fruit useful for the Master.

This verse tells us that some will produce a crop one hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. There is no judgment in the amount, and there is grace sufficient for all. Yet, everyone is unique, and some are more fruitful than others. The deeper we are willing to go in the purification process, the more fruit we will bear.

The journey to holiness, or set-apart living for God, is a highway that stretches from here to heaven. How far you get will depend on your pursuit of Him, how often you stop along the way and take a break, how many times you get sidetracked or deterred, and how stubborn you are vs submissive to the working of Holy Spirit.

💬 This is the person who receives truth, allows it to reshape their mindset, and keeps showing up in obedience—even when they don’t feel like it.

In health, this looks like:

• Choosing discipline over impulse

• Saying no to the flesh and yes to the Spirit

• Living with the long view in mind

🌿 The Principle of Sowing and Reaping

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh… will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit… will reap eternal life” (Gal 6:7–8).

Every choice you make is a seed. And every seed is sowing toward something. We’re either sowing to the flesh—the part of us that craves comfort, excess, laziness, or self-indulgence—or sowing to the Spirit, where we’re aligning with God’s truth, discipline, purpose, and life.

Sowing to the flesh might look like:

• Eating to numb stress

• Skipping rest and pushing past God-given limits

• Neglecting movement because “I don’t feel like it”

Sowing to the Spirit looks like:

• Pausing to pray before making a food decision

• Honoring your body with Sabbath rest

• Moving not for punishment, but for stewardship

And here’s the encouragement we need when it feels like it’s taking forever:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9).

God’s process takes time—but every obedient seed will bear fruit. You may not see it yet. But don’t stop sowing. If you don’t sow, you will have nothing to reap!

📌 How to Apply This in Everyday Life

• Check your soil. Ask God to reveal what kind of heart posture you have toward health. Are you distracted, shallow, resistant, or receptive?

• Plant with intention. Start small. Don’t underestimate the power of tiny, faithful actions—drinking water, walking in the Spirit (literally and spiritually!), praying before meals, etc.

• Tend to your thoughts. Replace lies with truth. When you think, “This will never work,” replace it with, “God is faithful to grow the seeds I plant in obedience.”

• Refuse to give up. Progress in God’s kingdom is often invisible at first. Don’t dig up your seed or stop working with it just because you haven’t seen fruit yet. Fruitfulness requires faithfulness!

✨ Reflection Questions

1. Which type of soil do you most identify with right now?

2. What “seeds” are you currently sowing—physically, mentally, and spiritually?

3. Are there areas where you’ve become weary in doing good? What helps you keep going?

4. What’s one simple choice you can make today to sow to the Spirit instead of the flesh?

5. How would your health journey shift if you focused more on heart soil than external results?

💬 Ready to Cultivate Good Soil?

If you’re tired of starting over, getting stuck, or feeling like nothing is “taking root,” biblical health coaching could be the help you need. Together, we’ll nurture the soil of your heart and create a wellness path that aligns with God's truth and grace—not just rules or restriction.

Let’s start sowing seeds that will bear real, lasting fruit.
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