(Matthew 25:14-30, John 15:1-8, Luke 19vs:12-27, Luke 13:1-9)
Will you be fruitful and profitable with your life before God. Will Jesus say to us, “Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your Lord”. As He cast the unprofitable and unfruitful servant, into a furnace of fire: where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Casting them into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched. Where the worm dies not.
As an individual or body of Christ, Jesus has given us all good things we have for a kingdom purpose, directly or indirectly linked to the kingdom of God.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).
For all of these, we must be fruitful. Not only that; we must bear good fruits so as to be profitable servants. To be fruitful is to bear fruit, either good or bad, sparingly or bountifully. Our Lord Jesus addressed this in Luke 19:12-27 when He talked about the servants who were given same value of pounds (ten pounds each). One gained ten pounds with what he was given. The second servant gained five pounds. The last person decided to gain nothing. Ultimately, for us to be profitable as we bear fruits, He tasked us that:
1) our fruits must be much – bountiful (John 15:2, 5,8; Matthew 13:23)
2) our fruits must remain – it must be produced to last and not to exist for a moment (John 15:16)
So, if we must bear fruit at all we must remain as branches on our vine (which is Jesus Christ our Lord).
If we must bear MUCH fruits, we must selflessly, submissively, diligently and humbly yield to God’s will as the vinedresser (as He prunes us to bear more fruits) without vain glory. And again we must be in that particular vineyards He assigned us to. Faithful and diligent obedience to our Lord will help us to grow much fruits despite all odds: hindrances, temptations, deceits, wiles of the devil, threats and attacks as outlined in Matthew 13:16-23.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
We must have eyes that see and ears that hear. May the Holy Spirit quickens us, in Jesus name.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.
We must know that it is by grace and should not go about in vain glory.
18 Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the way side.
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
20 But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
21 Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended.
We must not be ignorant of his devices – instruments, agents and methods. We should be who had considered and left all for Christ and now live for Christ. Who counted all his/her glory as dung and his/her cross as his/her crown. Living to gain Christ. If we die, then we die in Christ, to be and reign with Christ.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
We must know that all good things God gives us are for us to serve Him better and not to take us away from Him. We must leverage on them, focusing on being fruitful more. May the Lord release His abundant grace on us in Jesus name.
23 But he that received seed in the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; who also bears fruit, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
May we be those faithful, wise and diligent servants that bear much fruits which remain for the glory of God. Truly, we shall receive our rewards on earth and in heaven!
Prayer Points
1) Lord Jesus, thank You for Your mercy, grace and favour over my life, body and home.
2) Father, forgive me the sins of not being fruitful and profitable with my talents (and life), in Jesus name.
3) Father, open my eyes to see where I have been fruitless and unprofitable, in Jesus name.
4) Father, open my ears to hear from You what I have not been fruitful or profitable with in my live, in Jesus name.
5) Lord, release grace to bear much fruits that remain upon me, in Jesus name.
