Note 6 at Lu 8:14: This third type of ground is characteristic of a large part of the body of Christ today. These are people who have received God's Word and committed themselves to it to the degree that they are able to remain faithful in persecution. However, by being occupied with the affairs of this life, the Word sown in their hearts is choked, and no fruit is produced. Just as weeds in a garden will steal all of the nutrients and starve the plants, so the pleasures of this life, if allowed to dominate people's thinking, will stop the fruit that the Word would have produced.

Throughout history, the church has always grown in size and strength during persecution. This is because during persecution, we get our priorities straight. We realize our life is in Jesus (Joh 14:6) and not in things (Lu 12:15), and we focus all of our attention on the Lord.

However, prosperity has been far more damaging to the body of Christ for the exact reason stated here in this verse. God wants to bless His children with things (Ps 35:27 and Mt 6:33), but a preoccupation with these things will choke God's Word and make it unfruitful. If we would follow God's formula for prosperity found in Mt 6:19-34, we could have the Word bring forth fruit and enjoy the physical blessings of this life too (see note 43 at Mt 6:25 and note 44 at Mt 6:31).

Notice that Jesus said that no fruit was brought to perfection. This type of people will exhibit some fruit, but it will always be small and far short of what it should be. Those who feel frustrated because they are just getting by and are not experiencing the abundant life that Jesus came to give (Joh 10:10) should examine their lifestyles for the cares of this life, deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life that are choking God's Word.