Choking Hazard

The other day, I was reading in my Bible, and I came accross these words: "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (Luke 6:43-45, NIV)

That got me started thinking--the condition of my heart determines what my words are. Actions might speak louder than words, but words reveal what's in our hearts. So, what are my words? What do I talk about? If someone were to listen in on a conversation with one of my friends, what would they walk away with? Would that person say "Gee, that young man is a dedicated Christian"? Or would they say this instead?--"Man, I just don't know about him. I think he's a Christian, but I also think that he's got his priorities mixed up. He's having his faith choked out of him by the weeds of this world, and he doesn't even know it."

In addition to reading the passage above, I also read this section immediately following: "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." (Luke 6:46-49, NIV)

That also got me thinking: am I being that sort of hypocrite that Jesus is describing? Do I say "Lord, Lord," and not follow what God tells me to do? Am I being torn between God and this world, instead of fully belonging to God? Am I not putting into practice the words I have heard God speak to me? Am I praying one thing, but really doing the opposite of that?Do I fully realize the danger I am in, if I really am a hearer instead of a doer? Jesus described the the destruction of that house as "complete". Can I afford to ignore that?

O Lord, help me to avoid the choking power of weeds of this world and to continually focus on you. Give me the strength to give up the temporary things of this world (no matter how painful), and to instead work for the eternal things of the next world. In Jesus' name, amen.