The
theme of fruitfulness is a common one in the Bible. It begins in Genesis when the Lord God instructs the first couple to “be fruitful and increase in number;
fill the earth and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28). Here God means physical increase of
progeny, but the idea of increase is everywhere in the Bible. God is a God of
fruitfulness Himself and He looks for it in His people.
We
see the theme of fruitfulness in today’s readings about Joseph in prison, Jesus
telling the parable of the sower and the seed, and in the Psalms and Proverbs
passages.
Let’s
begin with Jesus. In Matthew 13, He tells a parable to instruct those who are
truly listening—parables are not for the casual hearer. Parables are designed
to cause thoughtful consideration so that whoever hears them will ponder and
understand even more.
The
sower throws the seed on good soil and it brings a huge harvest. Some seeds
yielded 100 percent, meaning every single seed sprouted and produced a
plant. And other seed produced a sixty
or thirty times harvest (Mt. 13:8). That is an enormous increase. As Jesus
explained the parable, He said that “he who hears the Word of God and
understands it...produces a crop yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times
what was sown” (13:23).
Fruitfulness.
What
about Joseph, in prison for something he did not do? Does he experience
fruitfulness? Not at first glance! After all, he is in prison. And there he
does a good deed of interpreting two dreams, and then asking to be remembered
when the cupbearer to the king is released as Joseph has predicted. Yet he is
forgotten by the cupbearer and Joseph languishes in the prison for two full
years. The Bible is clear on the time line. But God is a God of increase;
Joseph will not be in prison much longer. The king of Egypt has had a puzzling
dream about plenty and want, and Joseph is being sent by God to reveal the
meaning to him.
Fruitfulness
is coming.
Even
when we don’t see fruitfulness in our lives -- when the job seems mundane, the
children seem to play in the mud and then track it in the house, school seems
tedious, and will there ever be enough money? -- even in those times, when we are
‘in prison,’ we can be sure that God plans for eventual fruitfulness in our
lives. We may stay in the dry season for “two full years” or more, but God will
bring us through and there will be fruit.
King
David agrees in Psalm 17:14, “You [Lord God] still the hunger of those you
cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.”
Money was sometimes tight as we raised five children and sent them to college.
But, by God’s grace, we saw all of them graduate from college without debt.
They were able to enter adulthood unencumbered by student loans. This
fruitfulness involved money as our sons and daughters had “plenty.”
God
has brought fruitfulness in ministry to my husband and to me. We’ve been able
to see people come to faith in Jesus, to encourage and prepare young men and
women in ministry, and to see them flourish as pastors, missionaries, parents
and leaders.
How
fully I agree with Proverbs 3:33: “The Lord… blesses the home of the righteous.”
Fruitfulness—the
legacy of every believer in Jesus.
-
Nell Sunukjian
How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.
I love the story of Joseph in so many ways. Here's a random thought that came to me as I read about Joseph asking the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh, and for the first time we read about Joseph having a "this is not fair" moment as he spoke with the cupbearer about how he had done nothing wrong to deserve the prison he was in. (Gen. 40:14). However, the cupbearer did not remember him and Joseph remained in prison for another 2 years. I couldn't help but wonder had Joseph continued to fully trust God and not try to make his own case, would Pharaoh have had his dream a little sooner? Who knows. It is so human to want to state our case before people we think might be able to help us, but I find it interesting that the only time we read about Joseph complaining about his situation is here. Thanks so much for your insight on fruitfulness, Nell. I love how no matter what situation Joseph found himself in, he bore godly fruit.
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