SEEDS, PLANTS and SOULS

9 FRUITS

In a strictly biological sense -
from the plant's point of view, so to speak -
the sole purpose of a plant
is to produce fruits whose seeds within
will ensure the continued survival of the plant
through its offspring.

Thus the fruit is a very important thing.
This is brought out in the use of words such as
fruitless, fruitful and fruition
in everyday language.
Apart from their biological sense,
they are used to indicate
the outcome, result or culmination
of a happening or an event -
the fruits of his labours;
a fruitful discussion;
a fruitless search;
plans come to fruition.
The inference is that the production of fruits
represents the successful outcome
or completion of something.

The word fruit has several meanings in the Bible.
Of course, there is the natural meaning, but also others.
It can refer to offspring in a human sense,
as when Elizabeth greeted her cousin Mary
when she knew she was pregnant with Jesus:

"Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."
(Luke 1:42)

Another meaning
is the same as that of results or outcome -
and there are many examples in the Bible.
A beautiful one comes from the first Psalm -
again in the language of the King James version:

"Blessed is the man that walketh
not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree
planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so:
but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement,
 nor the sinners in the congregation of the righteousness.
 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous:
but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
(Psalm 1)

Fruits in nature come in all shapes and sizes.
I suppose most people imagine edible, juicy ones -
but they can be
dry like pine cones;
poisonous like yew berries;
dust like orchid spores;
boulders like the Seychelles Coco-de-mer;
round; flat; in fact,
the variety is fascinating.
But they all serve the same purpose
of being a vehicle for distributing the seeds within.

Very often, the fruit is a good way of identifying a plant,
 since there are so many distinct types.
In the Bible,
there are many examples of the idea
that the fruit can be used to identify the plant,
and also that the harvest depends on what one sows.
In the following passage from Matthew's Gospel,
Jesus is warning his listeners about false religious beliefs,
 during his Sermon on the Mount:

"Watch out for false prophets.
They come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
By their fruit you will recognize them.
Do people pick grapes from thornbushes,
or figs from thistles?
Likewise every good tree bears good fruit,
and every bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus,
by their fruit you will recognize them."
(Matthew 7:15-20)

In his letter to the twelve tribes,
James reprimands fellow Christians
for not controlling their tongues -
one moment gossiping maliciously,
the next moment praising someone.
In this context he says:

"With our tongue we praise our Lord and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in God's likeness. ....
My brothers, this should not be ...,
can a fig tree bear olives, or a grape-vine bear figs?"
(James 3:9,10,12)

In the next verses,
James goes on to say that
people who are truly wise will show it by their example:

"Who is wise and understanding among you?
Let him show it by his good life,
by the deeds done in humility
that comes from wisdom ......
the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
 then peace loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
 Peacemakers who sow in peace
raise a harvest of righteousness.
(James 3:13,17-18)

A further example of reaping what one sows
is given by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians,
where he emphasises
that giving must not be done grudgingly:

"Remember  this:
whoever sows sparingly will  also  reap sparingly,
 and whoever sows generously
will  also  reap generously.
Each man should give
what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound in you,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work.
As it is written:
`He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever'.
Now he who supplies seed to the sower
and bread for food
will also increase your store of seed,
and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be made rich in every way
so that you can be generous on every occasion,
and through us your generosity
will result in thanksgiving to God."
(II Corinthians9:6-11)

Although the meanings of the spiritual fruit
vary somewhat in these quotations,
the overall idea is that what we think or believe
will be reflected in our actions or words.
This ties in with the idea of a spiritual plant
growing within our souls,
and the fruits representing the most important works
 resulting from our belief.

To complete this look at spiritual fruit,
read what Paul writes to the Galatians
with regard to whatever one feels inclined to do:

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows.
The one who sows to please his sinful nature,
from that nature will reap destruction;
the one who sows to please the Spirit
will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary of doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up."
(Galatians 6:7-9)

So what are the fruits of following the Spirit of God
and leading a Christian life?
Paul has mentioned them just previously in his letter,
 while urging the Galatian Christians
to leave their natural desires
(exemplified by a long list
of pretty horrible characteristics which I won't quote -
but read them for yourself, if you wish!):

"But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faith, faithfulness and  self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus
 have crucified their sinful nature
with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit".
(5:22-25)

Here we have a perfect summary of the works
that should issue forth from us as
a result of a healthy faith growing in our souls.

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