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| THE CHURCH: WORKERS FOR
THE LORD |
#406
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Another New Testament analogy used to describe the church
has an agricultural theme. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is
like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
laborers for his vineyard” (Matthew 20:1). The “Farm” analogy
shows the church to be a place where work is done. In Matthew
13:3-8, Jesus takes us back to the farm again, this time to
introduce a farmer scattering seed in his field. The seed
represents the word of God (Luke 8:11) and the field represents
the hearts of people (Matthew 13:19). The “Farm” analogy
demonstrates how the kingdom of God spreads - through the
teaching and preaching of God’s Word. Paul said, “The things
which you have heard from me ... entrust to faithful men, who
will be able to teach others also” (II Timothy 2:2). The “Farm”
analogy reflects the labor of God’s people as they spread His
Word and nurture the lives of others.
But, most importantly, the “Farm” analogy teaches
Christians what God intended their purpose in life to be. In
John 15:8, Jesus said, “By this is My Father glorified, that you
bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” Here, the
agricultural analogy turns to the topic of “fruit.” The
Christian’s purpose in life seems to be the bearing of fruit.
But, what does that mean? In the New Testament, there are three
ways that “fruit” is defined as it applies to the life of a
disciple. First, it is a way to describe proper attitudes of the
heart. In Luke 3:8-13, the prophet John was asked to explain
what he meant when he said to “bring forth fruits in keeping
with repentance.” John replied by denouncing superficial
religion; then listed such traits as humility, generosity,
honesty, kindness, and moderation. Paul listed nine qualities
which he called “Fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. They
are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Surely, we are
bearing much fruit when these virtues exist within us.
“Bearing fruit” is also applied to the concept of doing
good deeds. In Colossians 1:10, Paul encouraged Christians to be
“bearing fruit in every good work.” In Romans 15:28, Paul
referred to the benevolent contributions of Christians to the
poor as “this fruit of theirs.” He also commended the church in
Philippi for supporting him monetarily as he preached. He said,
“Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that
increaseth to your account" (Phil 4:17 - ASV). Surely, we are
bearing much fruit when we do good deeds.
Likewise, “bearing fruit” may also be applied to the
gathering of souls into the kingdom of God. One day, Jesus
commented about the masses of people coming to hear Him preach.
He said, “lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they
are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages,
and is gathering fruit for life eternal” (John 4:35-36).
Bringing souls into the kingdom of God, doing good deeds, and
reflecting proper attitudes of the heart. In these things we
find the Christian’s purpose in life.
God considers the bearing of fruit to be very important.
Long ago, ancient Israel was compared to the vineyard of the
Lord. God had provided everything possible to help them be
productive and to bear fruit; but they would not. In Isaiah
5:1-7 God lamented their non-productiveness and promised to lay
them waste. To this same nation, Jesus later retold a similar
parable and concluded with this startling pronouncement: “The
kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a
nation producing the fruit of it” (Matthew 21:43). Because God’s
people let Him down, He sought another. Jesus told about a son
who promised his father he would work in the vineyard, but he
never did. Then Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that the
tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God
before you” (Matthew 21:31).
The kingdom of God was taken away from them and
given to another people. To the church of Christ in the gentile
city of Corinth Paul declared: “You are God’s field” (I
Cor 3:9). The people who truly belong to God will be found
working to spread the kingdom and bearing much fruit as the
“Farm” analogy teaches.
| Bible
Probe |
THE CHURCH:
WORKERS FOR THE LORD |
406
|
1. From the following scriptures, list three things the “Farm”
analogy emphasizes:
Matthew 20:1 ___________________________________________
Matthew 13:3-8 ________________________________________
John 15:8 ___________________________________________
2. According to II Timothy 2:2, how is the message of God shared
with others?
3. What did Jesus say you must do to glorify God and prove to be
His disciple? (John 15:8)
4. List three ways the New Testament teaches that you can “bear
fruit”:
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. Under each of these scriptures, list the attitudes which
demonstrate the production of fruit:
“Fruit of the Spirit”
“Fruits in keeping with repentance”
Galatians 5:22-23
Luke 3:8-13
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____________________________________
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____________________________________
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____________________________________
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____________________________________
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____________________________________
___________________
___________________
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6. Explain how each of the following scriptures define the
bearing of fruit:
Colossians 1:10
_______________________________________________
Romans 15:28
________________________________________________
Philippians 4:17
_______________________________________________
7. Read John 4:28-36. To what is Jesus referring when He says to
“look on the fields”?
What kind of fruit does He mean for us to gather?
8. Read Isaiah 5:1-7; Matthew 21:28-31; Matthew 21:33-46; and I
Corinthians 3:9.
What did you learn about the importance of “Bearing Fruit”?
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