Did you know that God wants you to have a full and fruitful life?  It's true.  Jesus said He came that we might have life, and have it to the full.  (John 10:10)  He came to give us access to and experience of abundant life.  Jesus also told His disciples that they did not choose Him, He chose them and appointed them - to go and bear fruit that would last. (John 15:16)  He wants us to live fruitful lives.
 
Some people get nervous around the idea of fruitfulness.  They get worried about concretely measuring whether their lives are actually fruitful or not.  They fear that any such measurements might show them to be lacking in some way.  They don't want to look at outward signs of service, helping and encouraging people, giving or leading others to Christ for fear that they might lose real and honest spiritual focus upon Jesus.  Some may feel a little better considering the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) as listed in Galatians 5:22 because it seems a little less concrete and measurable.  Others try to avoid the issue by saying that what God is most concerned with is our faithfulness.  They treat the two terms as potentially mutually exclusive, but they are not.
 
Jesus told the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) to emphasize God's concern for fruitfulness.  Those who took risks to multiply their resources from the Master were commended and rewarded for their fruitfulness.  The one, however, who was simply faithful to keep the Master's investment for him without investing was judged and punished.  In a sense that servant was faithful, but not fruitful.  He was guarded.  He was faithful to the Master, but did not trust Him or His motives.  It would appear that the parable teaches us that faithfulness without fruitfulness is not faithfulness at all.
 
On the other hand, we must be careful not to wish for fruitfulness that outstrips our faithfulness.  Some people just seem to have things and opportunities come their way. 
 

They seem as Joseph in the Old Testament (Genesis 39), that whatever they do prospers.  However, fruitfulness without faithfulness is a recipe for disaster.  Fruitfulness brings new responsibilities, opportunities, challenges and temptations.  An undisciplined and unsubmitted heart and character cannot stand up under the trials of fruitfulness. 
 
God's hope for you is faithfulness and fruitfulness.  Your faithfulness shapes your inner life and relationship with the Father.  Fruitfulness describes God's activities and impact on others through your life.  God wants to have an intimate and growing relationship with you, and He wants to use you to impact and transform others.  Don't settle for faithfulness or fruitfulness alone; take hold of both in the name of Jesus!

Taking hold with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
www.rolcboston.org