Cultivating Righteous Fruit

What we cultivate today determines tomorrow’s harvest. That’s why now is the perfect time to think about what we want to reap this fall. It would be nice if we could just coast through the year and see what happens. But, that “wait and see” approach pretty much guarantees fruitlessness. While fruit grows naturally on trees, it doesn’t grow well without nurturing, pruning and faithful TLC. The same goes for the productivity of our daily lives. If we want to reap righteous fruit from our gardens, we have to create the right environment to sow it and grow it.

The law of sowing and reaping is a Biblical principle most Christians have been taught or are somewhat familiar with. However, sometimes, I think we take this truth for granted. While we understand reaping good things when we sow good seeds, too often, we expect, hope, or pray that we’ll still reap good things when we cultivate bad deeds. Unfortunately, God doesn’t promise that we’ll reap righteous fruit from an unrighteous garden.

Until now, I pretty much considered the law of sowing and reaping as just an “after the fact” proclamation. I’ve believed the principle of this law in this way, “Whatever we sow we reap.” This is true. However, I’m learning that I’m not just supposed to accept this truth as fact and give no thought to what I sow while sitting back waiting for whatever comes. The point of this teaching is to cultivate right living that produces righteous fruit. It’s supposed to encourage us to practice preventative measures and avoid a rotten or undeveloped harvest.

This law isn’t just given to declare the outcomes of our actions. This lesson is taught to prevent us from becoming fruitless Christians. God doesn’t want us to live in turmoil and reap the bad crops of our disobedience, bad decisions and dumb mistakes. He prefers we live in harmony while cultivating a holy and healthy harvest.

Sowing Peace 

In the James 3:18 passage, we see that, “…the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them who make peace.” Peace, it appears, is great soil for a righteous garden, while chaos and conflict deplete, disrupt and distress the peace and hinder fruitfulness. A chaotic life is not conducive to productivity.

When peace is given enough space, the fruit of righteousness has a place to grow. Peace doesn’t just occur; we have to make peace happen.

Reaping Fruitfulness

I could make all the excuses in the world but, to be honest, my gardens could use some tilling and weeding today. My poor care and neglect shows. What little peace I have left is strained and my fruitfulness is practically non-existent.

I’m not settling for that.  I’m determined to work hard this year to see my peaceful, fertile soil restored. And, hopefully, if God sees fit to bless my efforts, I’ll get to celebrate a fruitful and righteous harvest this fall.

Bring It Home

Is the soil of your heart and home peaceful and ready for cultivating the fruit of righteousness?

Praying for you as we grow together,

Smiles, BRC