When a knowledgeable farmer is looking for land to purchase for farming, he looks at the lay of the land, the presence of rocks, its location to water and he most likely has a soil test done.
Why?
Because he is trying to identify Good Ground.
Why?
Because he doesn't want to waste his time and money purchasing, preparing, tilling, planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting land that does not bring an abundant crop.
In the time of Christ, there was a primitive way of sowing seed. We do not know much about soil preparation but we do know that the seed was literally scattered over the land.
According, much of the seed feel on land that was too rocky, too weedy or too arid, while some seed fell on Good Ground.
Nowadays, farmers are more educated about good principles of farming and so use more refined techniques to farm.
It is critical to choose the best land in order to get the best crop. Otherwise, much time, effort and money can be expended with no or very little harvest.
When we go about sowing the seed of the Gospel we would be wise to consider the ground that we are sowing it into. We should look for Good Ground. When we find it, we should sow liberally into it.
How do we know what Good Ground is when we see it?
Good Ground is ground with a Love Of The Truth.
If you encounter a person who resists Truth, they are bad ground. Don't waste a lot of time with such.
If you encounter a person who listens to and considers the Truth, they are Good Ground. Pour the Truth into them and they will be converted.
Have you ever seen a piece of bad land be worked year after year with only a marginal crop to show for it? Typically, this happens because the farmer works the land that he has. He often does so because of sentimentality for the land because he inherited it.
Sentimentality and stubbornness cannot compensate for bad ground. Actually, Christ Jesus discouraged His disciples from spending time with bad ground.
And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Truly I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. -
Mar 6:11 We are not to waste time with those who resist the Truth.
Yes, we are to preach the Gospel to every creature so that everyone is exposed to the Truth. But we are not supposed to make winning a specific person to Christ our main objective.
As sobering and heartbreaking as it may be, we need to understand that only Good Ground will believe and receive the Truth, Christ Jesus.
God can only change hearts that are willing to be changed.
So, share the Gospel with everyone in your path. Pour yourself into those who have a Love Of The Truth and warn those who do not of the coming judgment.