[Biblemat] A> Fruit-Producing Trees

[Steven C. Harper]

From: TRUTH & REASON, a bulletin of the Glendale church of Christ, Glendale, AZ. 
Editor: Steven Harper 
October 14, 2007
Fruit-Producing Trees

 

     I am clearly no expert when it comes to plants and herbs and anything that might grow out of the ground. I have planted okra and had it get up to about two feet tall and then suddenly disappear from my garden, only to reappear weeks later [sort of like starting all over] and then ending up producing some decent pods of okra. [I never figured out what happened.] I've had the good fortune of planting some habañero pepper plants and had more than I could possibly eat in a lifetime, but that was definitely an exceptional case. While I don't know a lot about the ins and outs of agriculture, I can read about plants and herbs, and from what I have read, there are some interesting facts about some plants - specifically about fruit-producing trees - that are applicable to our spiritual life.

    The First Year. First, if you have ever planted a fruit-producing tree, you might recall being told to not expect anything the first year. Especially if it is a transplant [which, if you got it at the local nursery, that will be the case], you should not expect too much, if anything, the first year as it adapts to its new location and recovers from the stress of the move. [Yes, plants have to deal with stress, too!] But if you take proper care of the tree in its initial year, you have a good chance of reaping some fruit the second year - and for many years thereafter. Just don't expect too much [if anything] that first year.

    In the spiritual sense, the babe in Christ [the new Christian] will often be like most fruit-producing trees in that they may not produce much in the beginning due to the need to get established and recover from the stress of the new move. For many new Christians, they have left the faith of their family and have had to face constant conflict from those near and dear to them as they are bombarded with questions about their decision, and they often face criticism and persecution from those whom they love dearly. During those times, it is difficult [but not impossible] to organize one's thoughts and control one's emotions enough to study with others and talk to them about the need for obedience to God's will. It is most often best if this newly-planted Christian spends the time establishing strong roots and spreading out [growing in the word, 1 Pet. 2:2] so that when they have the proper knowledge, they may be better able to answer the questions they will inevitably face when they study with others.

    Of course, there are exceptions to this general rule. Some trees do produce fruit in their first year [as some of you may already know] and will produce fruit almost as soon as they are established. In the spiritual realm, this may be the one who was raised in a family of believers and has been taught well before making the decision to confess their belief and obey Christ in baptism. Some of these new Christians begin studying with others right away and are able to produce spiritual "fruit" almost immediately; others will have made such a dramatic change in their lives that others notice the positive change and their lives will bear fruit, also.

    Whatever the case, though, every tree should bear fruit eventually - and the sooner the better. Jesus even spoke a parable about a man who had a fig tree that was bearing no fruit after three years and who commanded it be cut down (Luke 13:6, 7). The keeper of the vineyard asked for patience with the tree for one more year and he would dig around it and fertilize it, and if the next year it did not produce, he would obey the order to have it cut down (vv. 8, 9) because, as the owner said, it was using up good ground in which other, fruit-producing trees might grow. Let us understand the spiritual parallel here, for we must eventually produce some spiritual fruit, too. Jesus said, "Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit He takes away" (John 15:2). John the baptizer also said, "Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (Matt. 3:10). We cannot come to Christ and then sit back and do nothing, but must produce fruit or face the certainty of being cut off. We cannot excuse ourselves from bearing fruit forever, either. If we produce nothing, what good are we to the Lord?

    The Old Trees. The psalmist often has some enlightening words for us and, on this subject, he does not disappoint. In Psalm 92:12-15, he wrote, "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." From this short passage, let us note something very important to our spiritual life: You can still produce fruit even at an old age!

    The picture we should see here is that of an older, fruit-bearing tree that just keeps on bearing fruit year after year. I have seen many fruit trees, especially out here in the southwest, which the owners just about have to cut down and burn to ashes before they will quit bearing fruit. They are resilient, to say the least! I've known a few older Christians who could be described in much the same way, producing fruit for the Lord year after year and relentless in their efforts to put forth something and constantly demonstrating their usefulness to Him in the Kingdom. I've even heard a few cases where they kept bearing fruit until almost their last breath! Those who witnessed this were amazed at what they were doing at such an advanced age, but I am saddened that we have come to expect fruitlessness just because we happen to reach a certain chronological age. Why do we give up on the ability and need to produce fruit? Let us not forget that the psalmist said the righteous "still bear fruit in old age"; do we believe that or not? Do we act like it?

    Here at Glendale, we have many older "trees" who are well able to produce fruit for the Lord, and are proving it by their deeds and by their life. For those who see this and wonder when they are ever going to quit, don't hold your breath waiting for that day! For those of you who are sitting on the sidelines and contemplating spiritual "retirement" - shame on you! Why can you not bear fruit, also? As long as you abide in the Lord, you can bear fruit (John 15:5); as long as you have roots, you can bear fruit!

    Take a look around and see the great need for those who have been planted by the Lord (cf. Matt. 15:13) to bear fruit. There is too much that needs to be done for any tree to simply take up space and produce nothing. But let us also not begin to think we need new trees in order to start producing; old trees should still be producing, too! Those old trees should be constantly dropping seed which produces new trees, serving as the shade for the weary of soul, wood for the one who needs shelter from spiritual dangers, and fruit for the spiritually hungry. Reach for the Son, and it is possible.     -- Steven Harper
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