Our garden soil is becoming more fertile and lush as we add compost to it. Compost develops its ambrosial richness using common toss-outs like kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, and grass clippings. Yum stuff, right? Not to us but to our garden beds. Tons of wriggling worms within the compost do their duty, so to speak, adding even more oomph to our patch.

Jesus talks about being good soil. Mark 4 recounts this well-known story. You’re aware that the seed is God’s Word, which can be found in your Bible. When taken to heart and acted upon, it helps you to root, grow, and be productive for Jesus. Nothing better anywhere.

But here’s the rub. Good soil consistency often lacks just that, consistency! When it comes to Bible reading, study, and meditation, we can be rather hit-and-miss, lukewarm, and lackadaisical. Fairweather followers. When we have extra time if there is any. And if we feel like it. Then and only then. Inconsistent.

What about Jesus’ story? Here goes. Some seed gets tossed on hard ground, which becomes food for hungry birds. A faith that’s here today, gone tomorrow. No roots, no depth, nothing.

Other seed is scattered where too little topsoil exists and hardly takes root. Shallow believers who bolt the family of God at the first sign of trouble. Now you have faith, then you don’t. Fence-straddlers who also fall off Humpty-Dumpty’s wall.

Then there’s soil filled with weeds, brambles, and thornbushes which choke out the good plants. Who is Jesus referring to here? Those who focus on their problems more than God’s provision and promises. Who run to anxiety more than to the Lord.

Finally, the good soil, which is clear of weeds and protected from predatory birds, contains deep, vigorous, and nutrient-rich soil. Those who thrive in their relationship with Jesus. Who live for God and others along with themselves. Who let the seed of God’s Word work its wonders in their lives. Good soil. Productive followers.

Which soil are you in? How receptive are you to God’s Word? How much daily time does your Bible garner? Many probably fall into the overflowing with distractions category. Shallow soil. Dominated by ever-present cell phones. Too much time in front of glowing screens with fingers flying all over a keyboard. Shouldn’t surprise us that God’s Word remains razor-thin in our hearts and minds. And we know if that’s happening, don’t we? Jesus’ impact evaporates lickety-split.

I’m often in the smothered and clogged-up group. Worry-warts anonymous. My thoughts embrace fear and panic way too often. Old troubles refuse to leave the theater’s front-row seats even after they’ve been tossed out years ago. Keep them out, I say to myself, only to recall and massage some long-gone rotten word said to me by some know-it-all meany. Inconsistent me. Fouled soil. Unproductive.

Still, I want to be God’s good soil. His good earth. Where His ways find nourishment and growth in my life and heart. Not just here and there, when there’s nothing better to do, but much more often than that. Always? Not in this life, with the spirit willing but the flesh weak as can be.

What of those worm casings? Their droppings in the compost? I think that’s how we can use failure. Mixing and folding in what we’ve learned from our sins so that we become more compassionate and helpful. Let alone forgiven by God. This compost, combined with our flops and foul-ups, produces super-rich soil for Jesus. As St. Paul says, ‘all things work together for good for those who love God…’ (Rom. 8: 28). ‘All things…’ Let the Lord work those shameful things in our lives to make richer soil than we ever could produce all on our own.

How about it? Want to be God’s good soil? That’s my prayer. You too?

Lord Jesus, I need you in all my life. Amen.