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What Made the Good Soil, So Good? The fourth type of soil is the seed that is sown on good ground. The fourth type of soil is called "good soil," representing hearers who possess a noble and good heart. The word translated "noble" is Greek "beautiful""kalos," in outward appearance which is morally good, noble, praiseworthy, contributing to salvation. Kalos is a fairly common word that denotes a solid person, a wholeheartedness. The word translated "good" is Greek "agathos," "good of inner worth, especially moral." When the seed is received it yields fruit multiplying thirty, sixty or even a hundredfold what was sown. Planting in good ground has an incredible return and is a dependable asset. Keeping in mind that the seed is the same, however there is something special about the soil. This soil does not have more, it has less. Less rocks, less thorns, less hardness, less cares, less worries and less distractions so it has more room for the seed to work and produce. Jesus addresses the good soil: "But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields." The ability to hear and understand God’s message is often impeded by our own assumptions, cultural standards and partialities.
To be good soil, we must also have the imagination and creativity to dream, to be able to see beyond what is already happening toward what might be possible. In order to be good soil we must have the conviction to act. While the hearing and the dreaming may happen internally, this third piece is the outpouring of what God is doing within us for the world, our response to what we have learned and received. This may be the most important part of being good soil, but it is also oftentimes the hardest part. Soil must have proper depth for it to be productive. Soil acts as a reservoir to hold moisture and nutrients. Good soil must be loose. This soil that has been trampled down and hardened is unproductive. So, the basics to having good soil is hearing the Word and understanding it. We must remember that this is the exact opposite of the first type of soil (the seed along the path), which are those who hear and do not understand, and the seed is quickly stolen (Matthew 13:19). Understanding is the key to producing in the kingdom. Living what we believe, acting on our convictions, and persevering in the face of resistance are not for the fainthearted (fearful).
The final characteristic of good soil and a good heart produces a harvesting crop. The farmer just turns it under to fertilize the next crop. But a good heart produces fruit. Perhaps good soil only requires three things: humility enough to hear, imagination and creativity enough to dream, and conviction enough to act. We must allow God’s word to take root in our lives so that transformation and change are possible, both personally and in community. The Word of God is a seed and to be successful and prosperous in life we must plant into the womb of our heart and let it grow. Just as perseverance helps the harvest, listening, considering and continually understanding will also help the return. God’s word nourishes our hearts and those who obey God’s word and submit to it will thrive, while enjoying good and meaningful success. We must be nourished up in the words of faith. Good soil is not packed down. It has the necessary depth. It is free of weeds, insects and disease. It is properly balanced and properly nourished. These principles apply to both physical and spiritual soils. In the Parable of the Sower, the good soil was productive because it did not have the deficiencies that will limit the fruitfulness of the wayside, the rocky ground and the thorny ground. If your heart is hard, shallow, or cluttered, you will be unfruitful, just like the first three grounds or soils. Keeping in mind, to sow the seed, my fellow disciples, and sow it faithfully. And see to it that the same seed finds fertile soil in your own heart.