Throughout scripture, we see a great importance placed on our fruit. Our fruit is what we produce and cultivate by our actions, decisions, and attitudes. It is the ultimate result of how we live. Good fruit is that which pleases and brings glory to God, while bad fruit results from selfish and prideful living. We often say our excess is the fruit of our labors because hard work often results in providing for the needs of our families and ourselves.
A farmer who does not sow his fields will not reap a harvest. An office worker who goofs off all day will not get the promotion they crave. We reap what we sow in the physical world, and this is even more true in the spiritual realm (Galatians 6:7-8).
Having been born in sin, we all know what it’s like to live in sin. From our earliest days of life, we seek that which brings us pleasure. Selfishness does not have to be taught to anyone. We all seem to have a natural inclination towards it. For all the time we spend pursuing the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in our lifestyles, what do we have to show for it in the end (1 John 2:15-17)? The fruit of such a life is temporary and will not count for anything when we face the Judge of all things (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36-37).
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul asks, “So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of” (Romans 6:21)? He answers his own question in the next verse. The only thing those activities ever produced is death (Romans 6:22). It’s all rotten fruit. What once looked delicious is now full of decay. It smells awful and there is no longer any use for it. This is what the end of our lives will look like if our fruit is bad (Matthew 7:17-19).
If we will instead devote our lives to those things that bring glory to God, we will see an abundance of good fruit. The good fruit results in a most satisfying life on earth and a glorious life in eternity (Romans 6:22). We can use that good fruit as a weapon of righteousness in our ongoing battle with the spiritual realm of darkness (Romans 6:13; Ephesians 6:12). We need every advantage we can muster when dealing with what Satan throws at us, so living in a manner that produces good fruit arms us to withstand and fight back against every temptation (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-11).
Our fruit is a sure indicator of our spiritual health (Matthew 7:16; Luke 6:43-45). When we are in alignment with God, good fruit will abound. When we are out of step with His will, the familiar stench of rotten fruit will not be far behind. Christ died so we might produce good fruit for His Kingdom (Romans 7:4). When we crucify ourselves with Christ, we nail our old ways to the cross (Galatians 2:19-20). They no longer live in us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are free to produce fruit in alignment with the love of Christ rather than the love of ourselves (Galatians 5:22-23; John 15:4-5).
What is the fruit of your life? Is it fresh, flavorful, and delicious? Or is smelly, rotten, and full of decay? We are new creatures in Christ possessing a life of spiritual joy and abundance (John 10:10). Don’t waste your life tending to rotten fruit. Cultivate the pure love, joy, and hope found only in Jesus. Pay careful attention to what your life is producing. Our fruit reflects what is in our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 12:33-35).