"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

Things of all kinds can keep us from focusing on the Kingdom. The stresses of everyday life might make it hard to maintain a spiritual perspective. In a culture with a lot of money, our desire for wealth, our search for material goods, and our self-centeredness may trap us in stress. Worry can weaken our faith. When the Gospel's power is stifled, we eventually lose our spiritual strength. Jesus is where we find our most valuable treasures. We can handle any problems that come our way if we treat Him as our most valuable possession and put the Kingdom first.