Getting the Balance Right

by David Ritchie
Published July 16, 2004

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.

These are two of the innumerable challenges found in the bible. If these seem hard how about, be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

These challenges do not leave you with much room for manoeuvre! After all how can we in a modern age and a very different culture, be expected to walk in the steps of a crucified man? They don't allow you to do the things he did anymore. With all the political correctness you certainly cannot speak the way he did, calling people sinners and hypocrites. I would be sacked if I used that language at work.

As for bearing fruit that will last, aren't we living in the days when the bible itself talks about a great falling away?

We all know that nobody is perfect, indeed is it possible for a man or woman to be perfect. I would have thought not, but what about Job some versions of the bible speak of him as being blameless and upright and I think some older translations even refer to him as being perfect.

Whatever way you look at it, there is a tremendous challenge for the Christian in this path from earth to heaven.

One of the problems for me is that I find it so easy to equate growth with what we do, rather than what we are. If we think on fruit bearing, the branch does very little apart from being a channel for the nutrition to flow through to reach the fruit that is being produced. An old preacher said "God is more concerned with what you are rather than what you do.

I suppose the test is what kind of fruit we are bearing, as that really tells what we are? The bible mentions a whole host of different fruits related to 'doing', and it is important that we are "doers of the word and not hearers only." However Mary was doing very little when Martha was busy doing here share as well and Jesus commended Mary for choosing the good part.

Would it be fair to say then that the real challenge we face as Christians is getting the balance right. What we are first as that will affect both the motivation and results of what we do. When we get that balance right we will experience the kingdom of God within us; righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. I can settle for that.

Viewed 476 times