I love clarifying moments – especially as they apply to procrastination.
I recently spent a morning with some wonderful ladies in a great ministry. We reviewed “Procrastination prevents godly fruit; diligence promotes it.” One lady remarked, “I want to say, ‚ÄòProcrastination prevents godly fruit; diligence produces it.’ But that’s not right. GOD PRODUCES it.”
Yes! And Amen!
To prevent is to stop or hinder something from happening. To promote is to help something happen, develop, or increase; to contribute to the growth of. To produce is to make or create something by a natural process; to cause something to exist or happen. (Merriam-Webster)
I can hinder or help develop godly fruit. Only God brings that fruit into existence.
My major role is to recognize I am a branch and to abide or remain in the vine Jesus.
Jesus says in John 15:4-5: “Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
To abide or remain is to stay in the same place, stable, fixed. (Merriam-Webster)
Being diligent is a way of remaining in the vine. When I do what needs doing when it needs doing, I follow the Spirit’s prompting and receive the life giving power that comes only through Jesus. Procrastination cuts off or hinders that flow of power. Diligence is cooperation with God and His work in and through me. We are designed to abide in the vine and participate in His work!
I can aerate the soil, plant seeds, fertilize, water, and pull weeds to promote growth. I cannot put life in those seeds, make the tiny green shoot emerge, push through the soil, and stretch sunward. Only God can do those.
When I choose prayer and Bible over email, when I stop and listen carefully to my child, when I promptly return the requested form to my colleague I am doing what needs doing when it needs doing. I’m remaining in the Vine and receiving His flow of life giving power.
And look! Jesus says if we abide in Him, we WILL bring forth much fruit! He does that!
Thank you, new friend, for highlighting this critical point.
In what way can you stay better connected to Jesus the Vine by being diligent so HE produces fruit?
Nicely put. Thank you for that reminder!
Thank you, Rebecca. It’s easy to forget we are not the source of all things. How wonderful that we are not! And what a privilege to have a God-given part in His design!
Love to think about “receiving his flow of life giving power” to share with others. Like you share with us, Beth. Thank you.
Thank you, Kathy, for prompting this post with your observations!