In the parable of the sower and the seed we learn something about one of Satan’s favorite tactics.

From what Jesus tells us about the seed sown by the wayside that Satan is active in preventing people from retaining that seed in their minds (Matthew 13:19). This makes sense, since Satan hates the plan of God and wants to prevent people from fulfilling their calling.

When the "seed" (the word of God, the gospel) is spread, some also falls among the thorns (Matthew 13:7). Jesus tells us what this means in verse 22: "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful."

In this case, the "cares of this world" choke the word. The Bible tells us that Satan is the god of this present world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan influences society in determining its interests, its "cares."

Satan wants people to be so busy with things that they have no time for God: no time for adequate prayer and Bible study, no time to think about the things of God, no time for meaningful fellowship with people of like mind. Instead, they get distracted but what is going on in the world – news in society, sports events, new games and devices for home entertainment, etc.

In other words, Satan is a time waster!

That’s why the apostle Paul admonishes us to make wise use of our time: "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Christians in the first century had to “redeem the time” when life was at a slower pace than today.

How much more, then, do we need to do so today to prevent our Christian life from being choked by the "cares [interests] of this world?"

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!