You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…
John 15:16
As we embark on a New Year I, like many, take the opportunity to consider my life and the choices I will make for my next trip round the sun. Once again, I turn to scripture, holding it up like a mirror to my soul.
Still others, like seed thrown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19
John 15:16 says we were chosen to be fruitful. As I look back over the previous years, I confess that I have spent far too much time allowing the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things to choke the word of God in my life and make me less fruitful than I could have been.
I have not backslidden and my faith has remained steadfast… but have I been fruitful? Not as much as I would like to have been.
We Were Chosen to be Fruitful
So what changes do I plan to make in the coming year? It is my aim to spend less time trying to earn money and use the money with which God has blessed me as seed to:
- Give to God’s kingdom and
- Free up the time I need
… to be more fruitful. To seek God’s kingdom first!
It occurs to me that the worries of this life includes the simple business of earning money and putting food on the table.
If life isn’t just about making lots of money, it most certainly isn’t just about making ends meet. Where is God in either of those pursuits?
Rich Abba, Holy Abba
In order to become more fruitful, I must move from a Need-Minded to a Seed-Minded mentality.
Need-Minded
When I am need-minded, all I think about is meeting my basic needs; paying rent, putting food on the table, buying the kids clothes, putting gas in the car and keeping the lights on.
These are all necessary parts of life – but they are also the thorns that choke God’s word in my life and make me unfruitful. But, as a believer, I am chosen to be fruitful.
Seed-Minded
When I am seed-minded, I can be a better steward of God’s resources in my life. Instead of spending every waking second in pursuit of my next pay-check, to pay the next bill, I aim to seek ways of reducing my expenses. This means being content to live on less than I currently earn.
This, in turn, will free up resources that I can give to God’s kingdom or set aside to create passive income streams that are able to support me while I pursue God’s purposes for my life rather than chasing my next pay-check.
Where Will God Take Us?
For me this will involve missions. I may not be able to get to all the places I have in mind – but my money can go places I can’t. As I give to the kingdom, I hope to create a mission fund that reaches the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
With that in mind, where do you believe God could take you this year – if you dare to follow him?