Who is the Fruit For?

September 29, 2015

For more than two years I've been unable to attend our area pastor's prayer group. This morning that changed, and I was given an insight to a Scripture text I've not had before. The test was the familiar passage from John 15 where Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, then goes on to talk about abiding in him so that we might become fruitful. Aaron Bjork, the devotional leader for today asked this pointed question: "Who is the fruit for?"
Every community seems to have certain people who make the circuit from one church to another, moving on whenever they become irritated with something or come into conflict with someone. There is always a church within driving distance ready to welcome them in without question. These people can be quite toxic to the life of a church and are as every pastor knows, a pain in the neck (although some of us have a much lower opinion of them). The excuse for leaving one church for another is usually the tired old line of, "I'm not being fed," which leads us to pastor Bjork's question of the day.

If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, the fruit is not there for us, but for those outside the church. The pastor and the church don't exist to "feed" anyone, but to help us stay connected to Jesus, the vine. If someone feels they aren't being fed, they are missing the entire point. It is their responsibility to simply remain connected to the vine. If they do that, they'll receive all the nourishment they need to be fruitful. The fruit of the Spirit will be produced in them, blessing others. I've never known church hoppers to be particularly fruitful. How can they be, when their focus is so inward? Narcissism is like cannibalizing yourself; pretty soon, there's nothing left. So I've pondered the question all day. "Who is the fruit for?" It's for others, and for God. The firstfruits always belonged to him.

This Sunday, I'm not going to worry about whether or not pastor Joe's sermon feeds me. That's not his job. I'm going to focus on being connected to the vine. Actually, I'm not waiting till Sunday for that. It starts now. Thank you, Aaron, for your question, and for its insight into the mind and heart of Christ.