The Fruit Of The Spirit Is...love Series

It is interesting how frequently the Bible uses agricultural references in its teaching. In fact the Bible is framed by two fruit producing trees – the first in the Garden of Eden and the final one in the New Jerusalem. I’m convinced the Biblical writers made such frequent use of these agricultural illustrations because they so vividly picture the importance of both works and grace in the life of a Christ follower.

Each summer and fall, we really enjoy going up to Howard’s Orchard in Catalina to pick peaches, pears and apples. And when we’re there we see how much work that Mr. Howard and his wife have to put in so that they will have fruit each year. They have to water, fertilize and trim the trees throughout the year. But ultimately, the quality and quantity of their harvest is mostly out of their hands and they have to depend upon God. A couple of years ago there was a late hard freeze and they had almost no peaches and then last year the trees were so full of fruit the branches were breaking from the weight.

Developing the fruit of the Spirit is a lot like that. We must do what we can to develop the fruit. In a sense, we have to give God something to work with. But ultimately only the Holy Spirit can bring fruitfulness to our lives. Paul confirms this concept with these familiar words from one of his other letters:

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12, 13 (ESV)

On one hand, we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, but on the other hand it is God who gives us both the desire and the ability to carry that out.

So the fruit of the Spirit is more about being than doing and it is developed as a result of us cooperating with the Holy Spirit. But perhaps the most important question we must ask is this: What is the purpose of the fruit? And based on what we find here in this passage, as well as in another passage that we’ll look at in a moment, I’m convinced that the purpose of the fruit is that it…

3) Is to be delightful to an unbelieving world

Far too often when we focus on the fruit of the Spirit, we view these nine character traits as something to be developed primarily for our own well-being. But I think the words of Jesus provide us with a different perspective. Just before He went to the cross, Jesus spent some time with His disciples in a vineyard, talking with them about bearing fruit. Most of us are familiar with that discourse where Jesus reminds His disciples that they cannot bear fruit on their own apart from Him. But His words also give us some important insight into the purpose of bearing fruit:

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

John 15:8 (ESV)

One of the characteristics of fruit is that it is alluring. That’s why the grocery store displays it so prominently or why we put out a bowl of fruit in our home or even why an artist would choose to paint a still life of some fruit. Jesus is pointing out that our spiritual fruit is to be alluring, too. The purpose in bearing spiritual fruit, however, is not to glorify the individual, or even the body of Christ. It is intended to bring glory to God Himself. In other words the church is called to embody this character before an unbelieving world so that our lives would be alluring and draw people not to us, but to the God who lives within us in the form of His Holy Spirit.