"Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." (Luke 8:14)

Brazil is home to a vine plant which forest-dwellers call the "murderer." At first the murderer's slender stem creeps along the ground, but once it meets a vigorous tree, it cleaves to it and begins to climb it. As it climbs, it sends out arm-like tentacles that continue to grow larger and clasp tighter. Within time the once lively tree is killed by the murderer which has completely smothered and strangled it. The murderer, from the summit of the strangled tree, as if in triumph, shoots out a huge, flowery head from which it scatters seed to repeat its work of death all over again.

Like the murderer vine, the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life can choke and smother the spiritual life of a Christian. Let us be on guard less we, too, are choked and strangled by the things of this world.