Fruitfulness
Fruitfulness
I packed up my things at work, glad to be finally going home. It was a long day, but not a productive day. I try and fill up my time with meaningful activity but I really don’t have enough tasks to fill my day. The company I work for is in transition: one project is ending but another hasn’t fully launched.
I hate being bored. Distracting myself with other meaningless pursuits doesn’t fulfill.
I’m reminded of David. In 2 Samuel 11, we find the story of David and Bathsheba. It wasn’t a moment David should be proud of. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be- with his army going to war. As I read the passage, it seems he was bored and restless. It wasn’t a good combination.
You see, God loves fruitfulness but David did not produce good fruit from the moment in which he found himself. His sin caused him pain and unintended consequences.
Then I remembered the fig tree that Jesus cursed because it lacked fruit. The Bible clearly says it wasn’t the season for fruit, BUT fig trees with leaves usually do have fruit. He expected fruit because He saw the leaves.
Then I recalled Revelation 3:1-
“…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.”
Revelation 3:1-2 NIV
Ouch.
What does all of this have to do with our lives at this stage?
Boredom can lead to various distractions. Which can lead to bad (or no) fruit production. Which can lead to a reprimand.
God loves fruitfulness even though culture says we are past our prime.
How do we remain fruitful?
Dig out the weeds and brush in our life. This could be meaningless distractions or “busyness”.
Feed your roots. Immerse yourself in God’s presence and remember what it was like to follow His voice
Cut off dead branches that used to bear fruit but no longer do. This could be long-time activities that no longer are seeing a return.
Allow the Gardener to prune your live branches. He knows the growth in you that will never produce fruit. Let Him cut that out so that the rest of your branches will be healthier because of not needing to compete with the non-fruitful branches for resources.
Don’t let boredom at this stage cause you to be unfruitful. Walk differently than the culture. Seek Him and He will be faithful to the end.
