Fruitfulness in life and service to God is a process that takes time and requires investment of our valuables – treasure, talent and skills –to go from thirtyfold to bringing “forth fruit (of up to) sixtyfold.”The willingness of Christ’s Apostles to sacrifice and labour for the gospel led to a deeper revelation of God to them, with an accompanying promise of fruitfulness. Apostle Paul’s vision and perseverance enabled him to make remarkable progress, despite trials and oppositions.
We must do something as well to bear fruits, more fruits and much more fruits like those early disciples of Christ. We must, one, travail with fervency (Isaiah 53:11; 66:7,8). We have to pray with passion and travail for the fulfillment of the vision. Two, team up with focus (Ecclesiastes 4:9; Luke 10:1,2). This implies collaborating with those of like precious faith to achieve greater results because “two are better than one.”Three, treat the fruitless (Matthew 13:19-23). This is to nurture and guide those who are not bearing fruits.
To do this, we should instruct them on the way of understanding, guide them, so, as not to fall prey to the Devil; deepen their knowledge, so, they can be rooted and grounded in the truth. We are to strengthen them against persecution, clear the thorns that “choke the word” in men’s hearts, warn them against the cares of life and the “deceitfulness of riches,” and watch over them.
Four, trim the fruitful (John 15:2,4,5). We should help others eliminate distractions and focus on what matters, so, they can bring “forth much fruits.”Five, transform the feeble (1 Samuel 22:1,2; 2 Samuel 23:8-10,12).
Many members in a local church are feeble and need to be strengthened. Like David, we should strengthen and empower those who are weak, rather than criticise or clamp down on them. Six, train the faithful (2 Timothy 2:2; Genesis 14:11-16). This is to equip others to teach and lead. When we train everyone in the church, they will be able to “teach others also.” Seven, treasure and thirst for personal fruitfulness (Genesis 30:1,22,24; 50:19,20).As the church grows, individual members must pursue personal growth and development with passion and dedication.
“Then Isaac sowed in that land and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.” God wants us to prosper and bear fruits in hundredfold both in the kingdom service and in our secular engagements.To achieve hundredfold fruitfulness, we must implement our vision with virtue and perseverance. We must pursue it tirelessly until we see a manifold return. As Isaac sowed and received a hundredfold blessing, we too can experience abundance when we sow with tears and persevere through challenges.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to bear much fruit, promising that the Spirit’s power would bring remarkable results.
The disciples embraced the vision and produced fruits in thirty, sixty and hundredfold as they carried out His mandate. Likewise, we must first accept the vision before we can achieve it; envision it before we can experience it; conceive it before we can carry it; paythe price before we can possess it; persevere before we can produce it; and sweat in the harvest field before we can see a hundredfold output.
• Further reading (King James Version): Proverbs 29:18; Lamentations 2:9,14; Habakkuk 2:2-4; Genesis 15:1-6; Mark 4:20. Matthew 13:8,9; Acts 18:9-11; Proverbs 29:18.Mark 4:14,20; Genesis 26:12; Psalm 126:5,6; Ecclesiastes 11:4,6; John 4:34-36; 15:8,16; Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14,28; 6:7; 9:31,34,35.
