The importance of success by Bearing Fruit

(This post is part of the April 2015 Synchroblog “Bearing Fruit”)
 

These two words #bearing #fruit remind me of many biblical references to things like reproduction, the importance of being faithful and obedient, good use of opportunities available to us, etc. Mention is made in the Holy Bible of the different consequences of not being faithful, obedient or doing what we ought to do.

There are different life styles that can be associated with the words "bearing fruit". For the purpose of this write-up, I will focus on "bearing fruit" as it relates to people making efforts to succeed. In this light, I would refer to people as "bearing fruit" when they actively plan and make effective use of opportunities available to them to succeed in life, be it in their private or public businesses, at work, in school, etc. Failure to be proactive, that is to bear fruit,  normally leads to circumstances that people might regret later in life.

I was inspired to write on this topic after reading the parable of the 'bags of gold' Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 25: 14 - 28 (Holy Bible reference "New International Version" - NIV).

"14“ Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, a each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags."

After reading this passage, I thought of many people out there who, either out of laziness, oversight or nonchalance have failed to achieve higher heights just because they failed to make use of opportunities available to them at some points in their lives.

One remarkable thing to know is that just as the servants in the Holy Bible were given different numbers of bags of gold but given equal opportunities, God created all human beings with equal opportunities giving unto us gifts and wealth according to His will and plans concerning us. He has perfect and unique plans for each and every one of us. One person's destiny surely differs from another person's; people do not usually have the same things in life. That is why it is very important for us not to compare ourselves with others. We have to know that we are unique and special before God and focus on our lives and opportunities available to us.

Referring to the parable above, the first and second servants made efforts and succeeded (they bore fruits). The third servant who was given 1 bag of gold did not make any effort. He did not make any gains (bear fruit) with the bag of gold given to him. His reason for not making an effort showed that he was angry and jealous of his master's wealth, probably comparing himself with his master. He clearly refused to bear fruit! His master was angry with him, took the bag of gold from him and gave it to the first servant who made efforts.

Relating this story to real life, there are people who think that life is not fair on them. They compare themselves with those who they suppose are better than them. Therefore, they feel reluctant to go out and pursue their careers / businesses in their own little ways. They forget that everybody has his or her own good luck and challenges in life.

What might be the long-term consequences of missing an opportunity in life?

• Our Creator expects us to succeed (bear fruit) with what we have. He wants us to bear fruit and be successful in life. He does not want people to sit on any opportunity or be very lazy and unable to know when to move on. Just like the master in the reference parable, God is not happy with people who remain dormant and fail to make efforts to succeed (bear fruit).
• Opportunity they say "comes but once" so if anyone fails to take any little opportunity available to him or her at any time, that person will live to regret it. The person will not step up the ladder of success when he or she is supposed to.

How are you handling your bag(s) of gold? Are you bearing fruit?

God wants you to succeed and you will succeed only when you are determined to bear fruit!

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Other participants are:

·  Jeremy Myers – Good Fruits Are Not The Good Works We Perform

·  Mark Votava – The Fruit of Non Violent Communication

·  Carol Kuniholm – Fruit That Will Last

·  Glenn Hager – Juicy Fruit

·  Done With Religion – Can We Produce The Fruit of the Spirit?

·  Pastor FedEx – How Do We Bear Fruit?

·  K.W. Leslie – New Fruit!

·  Leah Sophia – Stewardship Trilogy

 

Looking for a perfect partner?

Whenever we watch movies, we see #relationships and life style being portrayed as being perfect. But in reality, is anything #perfect?

People, especially young adults, get easily carried away and deceived by this assumption that life is perfect. They watch movies of #perfect relationships and try to put into practise what they have seen. Most of the time, they make real life decisions based on what the actors/actresses would do when similar things happen in films. This decision relates, most especially, to when things do not go as "perfect" as expected.

A relationship is one complicated situation that requires great wisdom on the part of the people involved in order to take better decisions. All parties involved should bear in mind that nobody is perfect, so partners should not necessarily be judged based on any laid down rules/assumptions. There are times when certain behaviours and attitudes should be ignored, you know. Of course, different cultures and beliefs do play very important roles in relationships.

I am always curious to know what partners expect from each other. I asked different people and read articles and comments on the web and below is a summary of my finding.

As a man, what do you expect of her?

People are different so the expectations of every man differ in various ways.

• Among every other specific things different men desire, every man would like to date or marry a woman who is honest in communicating with him; a woman who is not too critical of the things they do.
• A man would not want a woman who will manipulate him in any way or who will always apportion blame to him when things go wrong.
• Men desire fidelity in women; someone who will be truly committed in their relationships.
• A man would like a woman who desires to be with him and who knows how to treat a man.

What does a woman desire in a man?

Just like men, women's expectations differ in so many ways. Below are some things that the majority of women might desire.

• Women want their men to be present with them. That is, they desire their uncompromised attention on them. They desire their men to be aware of them and be connected with them in the "right now".
• A woman wants a man to praise her beauty. She likes to be admired and told that she is beautiful. When a man does that, the woman feels that he sees only her.
• She wants a man to act like The Man. That is, act with integrity in all that he does not being egoistic, arrogant or displaying a "macho" attitude.
• A woman wants an understanding from her man. She wants her man to know her inside out so that she does not feel the need to be explaining herself all the time.
• Women want to be cared for. They need to know that they matter to their men.
• A woman wants a man who is strong both mentally and physically. No woman wants a physical weakling.
• A woman desires a man who has compassion; a man who is capable of loving not only her but all living things.
• A woman desires a man who can give her financial and literal security.
• Women desire blind loyalty from their men. They want to feel unique, special and be the "only women" their men have eyes for. They want their men to see the world in them.
• A woman wants to be the most important part of her man. She wants a man who is honest; a man who does not lie to her about important things. 
• A woman wants a man who takes the initiative. That is, a man who makes all necessary arrangements for things like dinner outing, travel, etc. and makes sure that everything goes as planned.
• The list goes on and on and on......