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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:5-8 ESV)

God wants you to be fruitful.

Matter of fact, God’s glory is riding on your capacity to bear fruit (according to Scripture).

MUCH FRUIT!

Disciples that don’t bear fruit don’t look much like Jesus. Of course, the fruitfulness God wants to produce in our lives may look nothing like our idea of fruit or our human paradigm for success. It is not up to us to determine what success looks like, it is up to us to determine that our lives will be characterized by faithfulness. God will determine what the fruit looks like in His own timing.

If we are feeling unfruitful, we need to ask some important questions:

1. Are we truly abiding in Jesus? We may be abiding in our religious tradition (going to church, attending services, showing up for our small group, etc.), going through the motions of moral adherence, or doing nice things for other people. But are we truly abiding in His daily presence? Are we letting His words abide in us? Are we carving out a daily quiet time to pray and hear from God? We can’t abide in Christ without daily meditation on the Word of God and intimate time with Jesus in prayer and solitude. (If you need a daily Bible reading plan, get one here)

2. Are you in the right context to bear fruit? Sometimes God wants us to change course in life. It may be time for a career move, relocation, or new ministry venture. Our hearts and passion may be aligned with Christ but we aren’t bearing fruit because God wants us to bear fruit in a different context and if he allows us to be fruitful where we are we may get too comfortable to move. Bearing fruit means abiding in Christ, and abiding in Christ is not only loving Jesus with all of our heart and being, but it entails following Jesus into whatever context he calls us to. Is it time for a change?

3. Do we need a different approach? Sometimes we may be looking for a new path but God is wanting us to simply put on some new shoes. Maybe it’s not your context that needs changing but your approach. Fruitfulness may require you to change your perspective, your methodology, or your technique. Maybe your attitude? You might need a new way of doing what you’re already doing. Flexibility is a bedfellow of faithfulness. You won’t experience fruitfulness without flexibility. What would putting on “new shoes” look like for you?

4. Are you patient with God’s timing and processes? Fruit-bearing doesn’t happen overnight. Are your expectations for fruitfulness realistic or are you too impatient with God’s timing. Remember, God is always concerned more with the person you are becoming than the things you are accomplishing. Pruning is the process in which God conforms us more to the image of Jesus. If you skip the pruning process and jump right to the fruit you miss the journey of becoming like Christ. Let God have his way in your life and be patient with the process. If your aim is to be faithful more than fruitful, patience will be more acceptable to you.

Although there is no magic formula to the measure of fruit that God produces in our lives or a “one-size-fits-all” paradigm to what fruitfulness looks like, we can be assured that God has promised that if we abide in Christ we are sure to produce fruit. His glory is riding on it. For us it’s not so much a matter of fruitfulness as it is faithfulness. If you are determined to be faithful no matter what, fruitfulness is inevitable.

Father, may you get much glory from the faithfulness and fruitfulness of our lives. We aren’t after success, we are after YOUR glory. May we never rob you of your glory by being entranced with what fruitfulness can do for us personally, but always seek your fame and honor with the sum of our lives. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.