Taking out the trash

We are not judged solely on our belief says Jonathan Taube

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” - Mark 4:18-19

Recently, I was really struck by this passage as I was reading my Bible. It is from the parable of the sower, which is well known one, often used in sermons and devotionals. I guess what really stood out to me from Mark’s account is how specifically Jesus addresses wealth and the desire for material gain as being a main component of the “worries of life”, which lead to being unfruitful.

I think we usually understand Jesus to be pointing out that if we focus on the cares of this world, then this leads to the strangling of our faith. But in reading it over, I don’t think he’s making a statement concerning our faith, but rather our bearing of fruit. The plants that being choked don’t necessarily die, they just don’t bear the fruit they were meant to - they don’t fulfill the purpose they were created for. Being wealthy doesn’t necessarily need to have any effect on our faith, but it can have a huge effect on our fruitfulness. And keep in mind that we’re not just called to believing in, but also to serving our God.

“A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” - Matthew 7:17-20

We are called to bear good fruit for the Kingdom of God. When we do this, we point to our heavenly Father and reflect the qualities he has shown to us. Qualities such a love of mercy, a zeal for justice, rich compassion and unbounded love. Yet, how often are we distracted by our wealth? By what we do for a living? By our desire for even more than we have? And if we compare these distractions and desires to the frequency of the Fruit of the Spirit displayed in our lives - is there a parallel? More importantly, how often do others seeing the fruit of God’s Spirit in us? Is there a disconnect in ours lives?

Personally I can clearly see in my own life how my wealth, and my desire for material things, shifts my focus away from, “…your kingdom come” and hinders my ability to bear fruit. If ignored, it can easily become a trap for any of us.

I’m still working through this in my own life. What is increasingly clear to me however, is that we are not judged solely on our belief. We must be working each day for God’s kingdom - bearing fruit. Anything that becomes a hindrance must be dispensed with. Anything.

Writer: Jonathan Taube lives outside Chicago, USA where he spends too little time caring for his house plants. He is addicted to four things: books, music, playing guitar and Monster energy drinks. He studies & worships with the NIV because he received a very nice copy of it from his future in-laws as a gift. Speaking of future in-laws, check back for an update after the upcoming wedding in May (the tux is already picked out - think James Bond in From Russia With Love, add dreadlocks).

No comments yet.

Leave a comment