The good seed of the Word fell in good ground, yet it did not all produce the same amount. Some produced only thirtyfold, other sixtyfold, still others a hundredfold. Jesus is not endorsing thirty or sixtyfold as most people suppose. Often we hear people pray for God's blessing on the Word that "it may bring forth thirty, sixty, and one hundredfold." Don't pray like that again. Why ask for thirty or sixty when one hundred is possible? Jesus did not endorse anything less than a hundredfold, but He also knew that most Christians would be satisfied with only thirty or sixty -- something less than the best. He spoke prophetically. There are three kinds of fruit-bearers among believers. First, there are those who are content with doing a bare minimum for Christ. They try to get by with just as little prayer, Bible reading, testimony giving, and soul winning as they possibly can. They shirk every possible responsibility and do only as much for Christ and the Church as they are compelled to do.
The second class are the "sixtyfolders"; those who are neither minimum nor maximum but just average. They feel that as long as they are doing as much as the average, it is enough. Consequently most Christians are just average. " I'm carrying as much as the others and a little more than some" is their excuse.
The third class, the "hundredfolders," are the "all outers" for God. They do not measure themselves by what others do but by what God requires. These are the little group whom God will use. Out of the 32,000 in Gideon's army, God used only 300. They were one hundred percenters." Of the thousands who came to Christ, He used only seventy disciples and twelve apostles. Look at your score card tonight and grade yourself for the day. Were you content with anything less than one hundredfold? Your reward will be based on your grade.
Go then, work, the Master calleth;
Go, no longer idle be;
Waste no more thy precious moments,
For the Lord hath need of thee.
"Good intentions are no substitute for action; failure usually follows the path of least persistence!"
And these are they which are sown on good ground;
such as hear the word, and receive it,
and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold,
some sixty, and some an hundred.
Mark 4:20
