Acting as if We Cared is Not Enough
We are all familiar with Paul’s words in Galatians 5:22-23, where he discusses the fruit of the spirit. We might even be able to list all eight of the fruits. Yet I think very few of us, myself including, understand Paul’s tree and fruit analogy.
I used to think that all one needed to do was to simply act loving, kind, gentle, etc., and I would then bear the fruit of the spirit. Yet this belief does not square with Paul’s use of the tree analogy.
Trees & Growth
The tree analogy illustrates that only a healthy tree can produce good fruit, in the right season, and as a result of proper amounts of sunshine, water/rain, and pruning. A tree does not simply decide to bear fruit because it thinks it should or whenever it wants to. It bears fruit as a result of something happening within, without, and with the help of nature.
Comparing the spiritual walk with trees is common throughout scripture. Psalm 1:3 describes the person who is “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (NIV). This person yields fruit because he or she first delights in God’s word, and meditates on it day and night (Psalm 1:2). Additionally John 15 contains the famous “I am the vine, you are the branches” metaphor. Jesus indicates that “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit….”
As Jesus, the writer of Psalm 1, and Paul describe it, fruit is born out of a relationship with the Spirit, a relationship to God’s Word, and a relationship that remains in Jesus. In other words, those who remain intimately connected to Jesus, those who meditate and absorb God’s word, and those who live by the Spirit, bear fruit as a result.
Actions Only = No Growth
Paul goes on tells us in verses 24-25 of this same passage in Galatians that, “Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
What does the law have to do with bearing fruit? Merely following the law-doing good works, obeying rules, and performing certain religious practices-will not cause you to bear spiritual fruit. Following the law as the priority focuses on outward actions or behaviors, and does not necessarily cause a person to examine the condition of the heart or spirit. Yet bearing the fruit of the Spirit involves living by the Spirit, the term “living” implying not just actions, but also a lifestyle of abiding in the Spirit (John 15:5).
Therefore, while action is important in our walk with the Spirit, acting in a certain way alone does not cause a person’s spirit to bear fruit. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit comes as a result of intentionally remaining in Jesus and being connected to the vine, purposefully living by the Spirit, and meditating upon God’s Words.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for this SJ. I always need to be reminded to abide in the Spirit. It's easy for us as believer to want to do do do without truly abiding with our hearts in the right place. But those who are not part of the true vine can only bare what I like to call plastic fruit. Unbelievers who claim to be part of the church can easily bare plastic fruit and we as believe can have a tendency to hang up that fake plastic fruit as well, which is why it is so important to be abiding in the Spirit so that we can grow that fruit that will last as Jesus commands.
ReplyDeletePlastic Fruit-what a great way to describe this concept Kristin! :)
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