Bearing And Sharing Fruit

Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:20

You drive up to a local roadside produce market with your heart set on buying a load of fresh summer vegetables. You see homegrown tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and several varieties of peppers—everything you need and more. Just as you start to select your items, the farmer who owns the stand says, “Sorry, ma’am; this produce isn’t for sale. I just like to grow it and enjoy looking at it until it rots. Then I throw it away.”

Huh? You likely haven’t encountered such an absurd situation, and probably never will. Farmers and consumers know that produce is for consuming. Sure, it’s beautiful to look at, but its God-ordained purpose is to bring nutrition and health to people. Fruit that isn’t consumed is no better than fruit that was never grown.

Similarly, if Christians aren’t manifesting fruit in their lives that benefit other people, something’s wrong. The fruit of the Spirit, as well as the good works we were made to walk in (Ephesians 2:10), are not for analyzing, discussing, and admiring. They’re for sharing with others! Not to bear and share fruit in the Christian life is to keep others from being blessed as God intended.

Bearing fruit and sharing fruit are two sides of the same spiritual coin.