Focus: Fruitful Life

Text: Phil.1:22,24

"But if I live in the flesh, this is the FRUIT of my LABOR… Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."

The Christian is called by God to a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness. For Christ, fruitfulness is the proof of discipleship and the Father is glorified by it. He delights in our perpetual fruitfulness. When God takes a look at us He wants to see our fruit - the fruit of a redeemed life and the labor of consecrated soul. A philosopher once said, "Show me that you are redeemed and I will believe in your redeemer."

The word 'fruit' appears no less than 66 times in the New Testament. The Greek word is 'karpos,' always translated as fruit.

Interestingly, James Moffatt translates it as 'harvest' in Gal.5:22 - "The harvest of the Spirit." The Spirit of God in us produces through us the fruit or harvest of Christ-like character.

The word 'karpos' is used to refer to different fruits in the New Testament - fruit for food, fruit of the womb, fruit of the Spirit, fruits of physical and spiritual labor, and so on.

Our text focuses on spiritual labor. The New International Version translates verse 22 thus: "This will mean fruitful labor for me." Paul sees every moment of being alive as an opportunity for greater labor in the kingdom of God. Indeed every moment a Christian lives is for God's advantage. Paul says in essence, 'I am ready to leave this world, but if God lets me live a little longer, then it means more fruitful labor for the Lord. I will waste no moment of it, but will make sure Satan is terrified, the believer is edified, and God is glorified.'

Paul labored and prayed exceedingly night and day. He was passionately involved in soul-winning and preaching the gospel from place to place. Every moment of his life counted for God. He was a man whose life took root downward and bore fruit upward. Indeed he died a martyr's death. He was not only faithful; he was abundantly fruitful. In his life heaven and earth came together.

Paul is long gone. It's now our time and turn to take root downwards and bear fruit upwards. There's no excuse for a fruitless life.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter