BEAR MUCH FRUIT, PROVING YOURSELVES TO BE MY DISCIPLES

“Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.” Jonathan Edwards resolution #6.

Lately I’ve been pondering the issue of fruitfulness in the life of a Christian. It is impossible to miss the emphasis placed on fruit bearing in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament.

For instance: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes.” (John 15:2 ESV)

That’s a pretty intense statement from the lips of our Lord. And it begs the question: what does Jesus mean by fruitfulness? What is His definition? As I assess my own life, do I see it through His lens or the lens of this world, my flesh, and the devil?

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with what I wish I was accomplishing and what I actually accomplish. Wrestling with my own “productivity”, or lack thereof, can keep me up at night. This business of Christian fruit bearing is one the enemy can really clobber me over the head with. He tempts me into the comparison trap, trying to lead me into feelings of worthlessness and even shame. He tells me I don’t measure up, that I’m not living “a life worthy of my calling”, that God deserves better from me. The devil is really good at this; he’s not called “the accuser” for no reason.

I imagine you can relate to this struggle at some level, so I would like to invite you to ponder a few things with me in relation to this vital topic.

Let’s begin with the account of Jesus and His guys visiting the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. You know it well. Martha is busy “doing”. She was bearing the good fruit of hospitality and servanthood. Mary, on the other hand was not “doing” anything. She was sitting on her rear end in the living room when, by all logic and custom, she should have been serving with Martha in the kitchen. When Martha complains to Jesus about her lazy sister, He says something that I see as very instructive for our perspective on productivity and fruitfulness.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things, but one thing in necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 ESV)

According to Jesus, who was bearing godly fruit, Martha or Mary? It is so interesting to me that Jesus commends the sister who was abiding over the sister who was producing and doing.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)

Apparently Martha’s service was not pure. It was flowing out of a troubled, anxious heart. Jesus’ response to her was intended to help her see that fruitful, Spirit-led activity must originate and flow from a heart that has first spent time in His presence and at His feet. That is the “one thing” that is necessary. This is the wellspring of godly fruitfulness. It all begins at His feet.

This is a helpful reminder to me of what Jesus deems fruitful activity. Fruit is not only what is seen by others but the invisible work of the Spirit inside my heart. It’s all fruit in God’s sight because the only good and true fruit is what originates from Him and through Him and to Him for His glory. (See Romans 11:36)

Every time you say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, you are bearing fruit. In every moment you spend interacting with your spouse or children, you are bearing fruit. Every time you can rejoice in an interruption to your plans because you are trusting that God is sovereignly writing your story, you are bearing fruit. Every hour you spend meditating and praying over your open Bible, you are bearing fruit. Every time you truly forgive someone who has hurt or offended you, you are bearing fruit for God’s glory.

My point is this: don’t let others’ expectations or the devil’s accusations skew your understanding of what the Lord is really doing in and through your life. All of it, what is seen and unseen, is God fulfilling through you the command to bear fruit.

A CAUTION – COMPARISON

A helpful way Jesus gives us to understand fruitfulness is found in the Parable of the Sower:

“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Matthew 13:23)

What I find helpful to our discussion here is the varying quantities of fruit that were produced. All are faithfully walking in the light of the implanted Word of God and therefore producing fruit for the Kingdom. But their yields of fruit are different from one another. But, as we considered above, all true fruit is produced by the Spirit. The harvest is His. We abide; He produces.

So don’t compare your ministry and your fruitfulness to others. Don’t let the enemy tempt you with jealousy or envy of what you see happening in the ministry of others. You have your own unique gifts and calling. Stay in your lane and rest. Stay at His feet and abide there.

ANOTHER CAUTION – MAN PLEASING

Those of us who are living our lives under the banner of “Christian missions”, can carry a special burden when it comes to productivity. Most of us live on the financial support of those who believe in what we are doing. Did you see that little word, “doing”? By and large, our supporters want to see tangible fruit. They enjoy pictures in our newsletters of kids and feeding centers and schools and preaching and baptisms. They like to know what we are doing to justify their faithful, ongoing support.

One of the worst traps we can ever fall into is “producing” for our supporters out of fear of not living up to their expectations and possibly losing their support.

This might be a misapplication of Galatians 1:10, but I think it is fair to apply it here:

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

CONCLUSION

Jonathan Edwards’ resolve: “to live with all my might, while I do live” is awesome. We all want to live that way. But I know Edwards enough to know that he meant what Paul meant when he said:

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12b ESV)

So, my Brothers and Sisters, keep up the good work. Bear much fruit as you abide continually at His feet and rejoice in the harvest HE is producing through you. May we pray for each other that we will not fall into comparison or man-pleasing or false guilt from the enemy. May we always see reality as He does. Blessings.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

• (1 Corinthians 15:10)
• (Isaiah 26:12)
• (Isaiah 64:4)
• (Psalm 92:13-15)
• (Psalm 1)