Faithful or Fruitful?

A missionary who had been a field director for a large missionary society mentioned that, in his opinion, some missionaries were not effective. He described a Korean couple who spent much time in prayer and Bible study but had few friends in the town they were stationed in, had made little effort to become fluent in the local language. The problem was that nothing happened around this couple.

Another young missionary works with handicapped children. His training to be a missionary had been inadequate. When sent out by his local church he had never led a Bible study and admitted that they had never led anyone to Christ. At Missionary training college he had learned about mission but had not been trained practically in how to be effective. He felt that God had called him to be a faithful servant, not a fruitful evangelist.

It is hard to assess how effective people are in their jobs. Their individual productivity may be limited but they may be great ‘enablers’ that facilitates the group to be effective. However there does come a time when, as in any business, somebody has to decide whether the investment in employing or sending people abroad is worthwhile. Somehow we need to assess the strategic significance of how we live our lives. If we are not being effective in the advance of God’s Kingdom we do need to ask whether some changes are needed.

There is a similar problem amongst all of us Christians who live and work in this country. As Christians we have all accepted the call of the Lord Jesus to accept the salvation he was won for us and the commission he has given us to live for his glory. This means a radical change in lifestyle and in our ambitions. Both need to change if we are to enhance the reputation of our Saviour. We also need to regularly ask whether we are being effective for Christ.

Jesus taught his disciples in the Upper Room, the day before his execution, that all should be fruitful for him.

“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

The fruit he is talking about is what we do, what we go out and achieve. In the same talk Jesus makes it abundantly clear that he is talking about winning others for him.

“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

This is why God has given us his Holy Spirit, so that we may be empowered to point people to Jesus by telling people about him. In the same talk Jesus said,

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father - the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27

In Jesus final prayer he said,

“I am not praying for the world,, but for those you have given me . . . All glory has come to me through them. . . As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:9,10,

It would be easy to excuse ourselves by saying that this was said specifically to the remaining disciples in the upper room. However the next verses make it abundantly clear that this role of sharing the gospel with others must be passed on to the future generations of Christians. We are all to be one in fulfilling our Lord’s wishes.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one. . . Then the world will know that you sent me.” John 17:20-23

There is a problem amongst Christians in the West in that not many would say they are fruitful for Christ. As a consequence many of our churches are becoming smaller and fewer. Many still say they believe in the faith, even if they are not passionate about Christ. We need to ensure that we are being fruitful for him. Could it be that the problem facing the early church of Ephesus is also plaguing us in the West?

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” Ephesians 2:4

It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction.1 The pressures of busyness, careers, marriage, children, prestige and the desire to be liked can so easily have the effect of putting out our fire so that we become ineffective for Christ.

The late Tim Keller advised those looking for church leaders

“Don’t just look for someone who is faithful, look for someone who is also fruitful.”

BVP

1 ‘Christian Theology in Plain Language’, p. 162.