Always Produce Fruit for the Kingdom
Never forget that just because there should be a complete absence of sin from our lives does not mean that everyone around us will be instantly release from sin at the same time. We very well may find ourselves surrounded by thorns and tares on all sides, but we are still expected to be fruitful. The parable of the wheat and tares, along with the parable of the talents, should instill in us a fearful expectation of judgment if we do not enter the maturity that God intends for us.
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24-30)
As you can read, it is well understood by God that we are surrounded by thorns, thistles, and tares in our lives, but He has chosen to allow us to grow side by side with the tares until the harvest comes, we are reaped from the world, and then the good crop and bad crop are separated. As you can see, even though we are surrounded by thorns, we are still expected to be fruitful for the kingdom.
The parable of the talents/minas portrays a similar message (Matthew 25:14–30, Luke 19:11–27). In this parable, Jesus makes it clear that God will expect to collect what He did not deposit and reap where He did not sow, which means that we are obligated to produce fruit for Him, even in the midst of a sinful world. There should be a fearful expectation for followers of Christ who do not bear fruit to maturity because, clearly, God judges those who don’t! This is an important warning from Jesus about the judgment to come that should instill a healthy and valuable fear of the Lord in your heart.
But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:26–30)
Did you notice that the lord in this parable gathered where he did not scatter? The significance of this is incredible because only mature, full-grown plants are able to produce fruit, which causes more seed to be spread! Therefore, God fully expects us to grow to maturity and produce fruit for the kingdom!
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:16).
Chapter 14: The Growth Process and Choices…
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