Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should
be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:18
In the Old and New Testaments, God likens his creation and kingdom to a vineyard. In the Garden of Eden, he ordered the first couple to populate the earth. This commandment to be “fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:22) also has spiritual implications. Jesus explained, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit . . .” (John 15:16). Just as Adam and Eve had to populate the earth, Jesus’s disciples should populate his kingdom. In Revelation, moreover, the healing tree of life bears twelve kinds of fruits. Everlasting fruitfulness in New Jerusalem symbolizes man’s reconciliation with God through Christ. In this spiritual vineyard, God is the husbandman, and Jesus is the vine (John 15:1). God commands us to be fruitful and multiply— bear good fruit and gather the harvest.
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matthew 7:17-20
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Be Fruitful
Recall the Galatians, who were pressured to keep Jewish religious laws and traditions. In his letter, Paul clarified that circumcision and other such acts do not matter because Christ fulfilled the law and set believers free from its confines. In other words, performative religious practice is fruitless. Believers must deny the workings of the flesh and cultivate fruitful relationships with Jesus Christ.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:22-25
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Our fruit reflects our spiritual walk. It will either confirm our faith or expose our hypocrisy. In other words, we can act like disciples, or we can be disciples. By growing in Christ, we manifest the fruit of the Spirit, not by rituals but by faith.
The Word of God is like a seed, germinating in the good ground of our hearts. As hearers and doers of the Word, we will yield the fruit of the Spirit. If the Word does not fall on good ground, we may be tempted to sin. Instead of being effective in the vineyard, we could hinder growth. Sin is like an infection that causes fruit to rot.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:19-21
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Operating in the flesh, we compromise our spiritual walk. Let us, therefore, hide the Word in pure hearts so that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11). As firstfruits of the Lord, let us worship him in Spirit and in truth. Then, we can work the harvest as Jesus commanded.
Multiply
God himself will increase the kingdom if we labor in the field. People, bound in sin, need to hear about the Lord’s freedom. Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, gave his life to save ours. Nevertheless, Jesus said many unsaved are ripe for harvest, but few disciples are willing to gather. Look out, Paul explains that our punch cards will ultimately be evaluated.
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
We have received our assignment, so let us serve diligently for the benefit of others. Good news, every disciple will receive a reward based on the quality of his service. And so, with wonderful anticipation, we accept Christ’s great commission!
The Lord of the Harvest
Vineyard service does not come without its challenges. However, The Lord of the harvest (Matthew 9:38) trains us to be effective field workers. We can trust and depend upon him to be with us, even to the end of the world. Though the enemy plants weeds to choke the Word, Jesus will ultimately separate the wheat from the chaff. If we face watering issues, Jesus offers living water springing up to everlasting life. Troubled by extreme weather conditions, Jesus rebukes storms with the sound of his voice. Encumbered by insufficient light, Jesus is the light of the world; following him, we will not walk in darkness (John 8:12). Weakened by the spread of disease (sin), Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us if we repent. Without a doubt, Jesus has equipped us to be productive in the kingdom, and in due season, we will reap what we have sown.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Galatians 6:7