Where’s the Fruit? – Part 1

This blog is Part 1 of a 3 part series on the Pursuit of a Fruitful Life

My home is an excellent barometer of my soul: I can generally judge the health of my life-pace by the condition of my house. A quick tour through my home this past week offered a shocking collection of misplaced items: dishes piling in the sink, clothes on the floor of my closet, an unmade bed, laundry in baskets, scattered baby toys after a visit with my grand-girls, a random Tupperware container on my coffee table. If anyone was to come for a visit today, I’d probably feel the urge to spill out a whole string of excuses…and I’m only confessing the stuff you can see with your eyes.

The condition of my house is a mere shadow to what goes on inside my soul during hectic and busy seasons. After doing a little soul inventory, I was shocked by the disorder and chaos that had developed there over the first quarter of this new year. Weeks of running in too many directions at once left little time to strengthen the course of my life.

Proverbs says, “Guard your heart ABOVE ALL ELSE, for it determines the course of your life.” (Prov 4:23)

If you’re anything like me, ‘all else’ almost always comes before taking care of the issues of my heart. At some point emotional warning sirens begin to blare, informing us that if we don’t listen to the timid needs and longings of our soul, an empty tank may leave us stranded. So this past week, I decided to pay attention to the chaos. I cleared my calendar and carved out 48 hours for inner housekeeping.

Just as I was preparing to turn off my phone to prevent distractions, I received a text from a friend. Her morning began with the disappointing news that an incredible job opportunity had escaped her. However, she wasn’t texting me to complain. Amidst her disappointment, God met her with timely encouragement. Her text read, “Patty, you MUST take a moment to read 1 Timothy 4 this morning.”

“Must” spiked my interest and gave me a starting point for my time away. So, I grabbed my Bible.  After surrendering the chaos of my soul to the One who isn’t threatened or disgusted by it, I read the passage below. Within moments God began to blow away the dust and sort through the clutter.

¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received…
.¹⁵ Give your complete attention to these matters.
Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.
¹⁶ Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching.
Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation
and the salvation of those who hear you.
(1 Timothy 4:14-16)

Several of the highlighted phrases captured my attention, but the phrase “Give your complete attention to…” felt downright daunting.  Complete attention?  That’s where I struggle…and that’s why my soul becomes so routinely cluttered and chaotic.  The phrase feels like a far-off, unattainable goal. Do women (wives, moms, career women) who constantly respond to the rising needs of the moment EVER have the luxury of giving “complete attention” to anything?

 I am grateful that the following line provides us with a standard of measurement.  The goal is not perfection, but visible progress.  We will not be able to do ALL THINGS well, but what if we stayed true to what we know to be our most important tasks within our current season?

When I say ‘yes’ to a vast number of good things, or when I take on responsibilities that others are fully equipped to handle, I make a choice to neglect the spiritual gift God has given me. I forfeit the joy of experiencing the impact of a gift that has been nurtured and cultivated when I fail to discipline my time or give my complete attention to the unique task He’s given me to do.

I bet this rings true for most of us.  So, what if we began to make progress by praying, “What is one thing I can do today to nurture the spiritual gift You have given me?”

A tree doesn’t naturally produce fruit. Its natural tendency is to produce wood, resulting in an overgrowth of sucker-branches. Left alone, our lives develop similar overgrowth.  Would you prayerfully ponder these questions with me today?

• Am I guarding my heart above all else? What does “all else” represent for me?
• In what areas has my life become overgrown? (i.e. what is keeping me from bearing fruit?)
• Have I taken on responsibilities/activities that are preventing me from being able to give my complete attention (time, energy, and creativity) to cultivating the spiritual gifts God has given me?
• ‘Complete attention’ requires a willingness to make the tough decision to prune back those branches that sap my time and energy. What do those branches represent in my life?

In John 15, Jesus says,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful….⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit”

God wants YOU to be fruitful!

Let’s trust God with the pruning shears. We subtract.  God multiplies.  Let’s invite Him to show us where we need to subtract from our fullness so that He can multiply our fruitfulness!