Fruit - The purpose of Life

Let’s begin with a parable:
“Once upon a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’
But the olive tree refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
“Then they said to the fig tree, ‘You be our king!’
But the fig tree also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
“Then they said to the grapevine, ‘You be our king!’
But the grapevine also refused, saying, ‘Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?’
- Judges 9:8-13, New Living Translation
In this engaging parable, two trees and a vine have a great opportunity presented to them: be the king. Yet all the candidates firmly decline. Does that surprise you?
Imagine the persuasive arguments:
“This is a great opportunity to fulfill your destiny.”
“Become a star! Have your name in lights!”
“Rule the internet! Have the most Facebook friends and the highest hit count on Twitter!”
“This is your golden moment! Seize the day!”
And the most tempting argument of all: “You could do so much good!”
All three – olive tree, fig tree, and grape vine – firmly rejected this fantastic offer because they knew they were not created to be king. They were created to bear fruit. Everything else was just waving in the wind.
We can learn from these plants. When presented with any opportunity, apparently good or obviously bad, we need to put that offer to this test: “If I accept this offer can I do so knowing that God will make me fruitful in that new position? Or, if I accept this offer, will it choke my fruitfulness? In other words, will this offer allow me to continue glorifying God and blessing people?
You can bear fruit to the glory of God in any profession or activity that pleases God. But your fruitfulness will be greatly diminished if you let someone talk you into a position God does not want you to take.
Are you, right now, considering an offer that would, if taken, choke your fruitfulness? It could be a relationship. It could be a position. It could be a get-rich-quick scheme. It could even be something spiritual. Whatever it is, put it to the fruit test. You’ll never go wrong if you do.