Nothing Will Grow Where Gold Grows
Prioritizing the world over Christ leads to a heart that is incapacitated to receive divine counsel and comfort, and ultimately results in the departure of Christ.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the tragic choice of the Gergesenes, who preferred their worldly possessions over the presence of Christ, illustrating how an inordinate love for the world can lead to spiritual barrenness. He warns that when hearts are filled with worldly desires--be it wealth, pleasure, or honor--there is no room for divine growth or comfort. Brooks highlights the folly of choosing temporary gains over eternal salvation, urging believers to prioritize their relationship with Christ above all else.
Text
"Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And
when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave
their region." Matthew 8:34
Many prefer the world before Christ; yes, the worst of
the world before the best of Christ! The Gergesenes
preferred their swine before a Savior; they had rather
lose Christ than lose their hogs! They had rather that
the devil should still possess their souls, than that
Jesus should drown their pigs. They preferred their
swine before their salvation, and presented a
wretched petition for their own damnation.
Though there is no misery, no plague, no curse, no
wrath, no hell, compared to Christ's departure from
a people--yet men who are mad upon the world will
desire this.
Some say that nothing will grow where gold grows.
Certainly, where an inordinate love of the world grows,
there nothing will grow that is good. A heart filled . . .
either with the love of the world,
or with the profits of the world,
or with the pleasures of the world,
or with the honors of the world,
or with the cares of the world,
or with the business of the world
--is a heart incapacitated to receive any divine
counsel or comfort from the word!
Sermon Outline
- The World's Preference Over Christ
- The Effects of an Inordinate Love of the World
- The Departure of Christ from a People
- No misery compares to Christ's departure from a people
- Men who prioritize the world over Christ will desire His departure
Key Quotes
“Some say that nothing will grow where gold grows.” — Thomas Brooks
“A heart filled . . . either with the love of the world, or with the profits of the world, or with the pleasures of the world, or with the honors of the world, or with the cares of the world, or with the business of the world--is a heart incapacitated to receive any divine counsel or comfort from the word!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Be aware of the dangers of an inordinate love of the world and prioritize your relationship with Christ above all else.
- Recognize that a heart filled with worldly desires is unable to receive divine counsel and comfort from the word.
- Make a conscious effort to cultivate a heart that is receptive to the word of God and prioritizes spiritual growth over worldly pursuits.