I love the idea of flourishing and seeing fruitfulness in every area of my life. Don’t you? Flourishing sounds like productive growth. Sadly, that is not always my reality. Some days, I don’t flourish at all or see any fruit in my life. Somedays, I feel dried up and lifeless in my purpose, pursuits and passions. However, on the days when I do reap a harvest from my labor and endeavors, it’s thrilling to see new ideas bud, to experience the process of growth, to reap where I’ve sown and watch dreams bloom into full reality. Those are the days I am most content and motivated. It is my earnest desire to be fruitful and produce a pleasing harvest for my Creator. Yet, some days, that seems very difficult or downright impossible. So, how do we flourish sufficiently and successfully each day?
Considering the Fruitless Days
It can be frustrating, at the end of the day or a particular venture, to find out we’ve wasted our time or that our work was unprofitable. Fruitlessness can stifle motivation and stop momentum dead in its tracks. Finding that nothing good, productive or valuable has come from hours of invested training, time, efforts and energy is disheartening. That can quickly let the air out of creativity and industrious pursuits. What is it that is holding our flourishing back? Could we be spending our efforts and energies in the wrong gardens and on the wrong produce? What are we missing? Why are we not consistently seeing fruit from our lives?
Living a Flourishing Life
First of all, let’s look at what it means to “flourish” according to Proverbs 11:28. The Hebrew definition for the word is:
FLOURISH – Hebrew – #06524. parach,
a primitive root; to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish
Only a thriving, healthy branch can produce buds and bloom. Flourishing is like spreading our wings to fly. We can do something and go somewhere. We can be productive in good ways. However, to be a flourishing branch, we can’t just go out on our own and do it our way. We have to stay rooted in Christ and follow His instructions for growth. God promised us that we can flourish, but He was very specific on who that promise applies to.
Flourishing in Righteousness
In Proverbs 11:28, God says that the “righteous shall flourish as a branch.” Wait, that’s not promised to everybody? Who is that for? What does it mean to be righteous? The Hebrew definition says it means:
RIGHTEOUS – Hebrew – #06662 – qydu tsaddiyq, tsad-deek’
from 6663;just
Hebrew #06663 – qdu tsadaq, tsaw-dak’
primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
Righteousness plays a large part in our ability to flourish as a believer in God and His Word. The passage in Proverbs 11 teaches us that being righteous is far more profitable to our lives than trusting in the riches of this world. To be righteous means we are to be just, which comes from being or making right in a moral or forensic (judging) sense. We can’t flourish when we:
- are unjust
- live immorally
- don’t practice right judgment.
We must live a righteous life to flourish as God would want us to.
Reasons for Flourishing
The world is watching us. They see what we do and don’t do. They expect certain things of Christians that they don’t expect of unbelievers. We can’t flourish in Godliness, if we are flourishing in Worldliness. (Romans 12:1-2) God’s Word specifically teaches us that we are known by our fruit.
“For every tree is known by his own fruit.”
Luke 6:44a
This made me wonder, “How am I known and what am I pursuing and producing?” (I found it neat that this Scriptural lesson builds on my theme verse for this year:)
“Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues without right.”
Proverbs 16:8
As God has been impressing on me to continue decreasing my unnecessary “stuff” this year, He has been inspiring me to increase my righteousness. And, I’ve noticed that doing so gives my life more solace, makes my life simpler and yields better fruit.
Ever since I accepted God’s Son, Jesus as my Savior at the age of twelve, I have wanted to live for Him. Sadly I have failed time and time again. I’ve struggled, strayed, and have been stifled or side-lined often. I’ve tried and quit and tried again—every day, every week, every month, and every year. But, even when I feel sad, stuck or set-back, the yearning is always present and I feel God‘s Holy Spirit leading me to stay on track and thrive. These verses have helped:
“A man shall not be established by wickedness:
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.”
Proverbs 12:3
“The wicked desireth the net of evil men:
but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.”
Proverbs 12:12
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;
and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30
When we boil this down as Christ followers, we come to some specific questions, “Are we flourishing as God would have us flourish?” and “What are we pursuing more—riches or righteousness?”
(This sure gave me something to ponder.)
BRINGING IT HOME
Are you seeing fruit in your life today?
In what part of your life would you like to flourish more for God?
Growing With You,
Smiles, BRC
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