When God looks for fruit in your life and finds none

God expects us to grow in Him and bear good fruit. When we do not bear any good fruit God takes notice. It is a serious matter to Him as this passage from Luke testifies. 

Luke 13:6-9

6 And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. 7 And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; 9 and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’”

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Rejoicing in work or being burdened by work

Have you ever seen youths that have seemingly endless energy. And that energy abounds when their bodies are working on what they want to do. But if you ask them to rake the yard then all their energy drains right out of them. It not that their bodies lack energy. Its a mental burden to them because they selfishly don't see any good in the work and their selfish mindset wearies them. 

But God teaches us that we should rejoice in our work and see the good in it. In Genesis chapter 1 we find that God created the heavens and earth. And during those 6 days God frequently looked at His work and told Himself that it was good. God showed us how He rejoiced in His work so that we too would rejoice by telling ourselves that our labor is good. God has kind intentions towards us. And as a result He teaches us about joyful paths. Another passage that strongly promotes rejoicing in our work is Ecclesiastes 2:24.

24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.

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Several uses of the tongue are an abomination to God.

Proverbs 6:16-19 tells about seven things that are an abomination to God. Three of these seven things concern the use of our tongue. If we love the Lord we will not want to displease Him. Let's use our tongues in a way that will bless both God and people.

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.

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Speaking with wicked lips or even listening to them - Both can be sin

Proverbs 17:4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

We all know that using our lips in a wicked or destructive way is sin. But this verse shows that listening and/or paying attention to those who use their lips sinfully can be sin on the part of the hearer. It reveals sinful character flaws when a person wants to hear wrong usage of the tongue. 

We should prayerfully examine ourselves and see if there is any area of our life where we actually incline our ear to someone who uses their tongue sinfully.


Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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Have you shown kindness to your neighbor lately?

Do we get so focused on serving God in this way or that way that we neglect to show kindness to our neighbors? If showing kindness to our neighbors is off the radar and not in our thoughts then we are missing the broad side of the barn. This is a major teaching in the Bible and setting it aside is neglecting His will for us.

If you have let this teaching slip through the cracks then why not make a plan today to correct it.  Think about an idea as to how you will bring your neighbor good in the near future. And then do it. And in bringing them good do it with pure motives.  Bring them good without any expectation of receiving something  in return. Not only will you bless your neighbor but you will cause God to smile as well.

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Small ability level or great, both can please God equally

As you read the passage from Matthew 25: below take notice of the following. In verse 15 we see that those entrusted with the talents did not all have the same ability level. They were given responsibilities base on their own individual ability. God knowing their ability level did not expect them to accomplish equally. Instead of equal accomplishments God was looking for equal faithfulness.

Perhaps this is not the best example but lets pretend you are on the same basketball team as Michael Jordan. You can give your team a 100% and Michael can give his team a 100%. At the end of the game, in-spite of equal effort, Michael scores twice as many points as you. You were not equally productive but you both gave your best effort. 

In this world the one with greater ability may be favored more. But not so with God. In verses 19-23 carefully compare, word for word, the praise that the master gave to the one who gained 5 talents to the one that gained 2 talents. The praise is the same. Word for word the praise is the same. God was equally pleased with both. Why? God was not equally pleased because of equal accomplishments but because they both were faithful. 

Matthew 25:14-30

14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16 Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17 In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18 But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22 “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27 Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28 Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29 “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30 Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Scripture quotations taken from the "NASB" (www.lockman.org)
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