Angela Chininin Buele

Fruitfulness is not a consequence, it is not second best, and it is not to be feared. Children are a blessing from the Lord.

Fruitfulness also takes dedication, sacrifice, and humility.  These are all attributes many people who say they don’t want children (now or ever) are probably already developing in order to advance in a career, a hobby, or an education program.

Clearly people are willing to work extra hours and go the extra mile for a job and carry the burden of the consequences that brings to their personal life.  What remains unclear is why those same people might simultaneously fight for abortion rights on account of the personal sacrifice that having a baby requires.

Each person plants a seed with his or her life, hoping to leave behind a legacy.  Methods for nurturing those seeds, however, vary widely.  If you nurture your legacy seed with today’s success and approval from others, you will find that the praise of others fades as soon as it is issued.  A seed can’t grow if its water source evaporates on contact.  This seed might look perfect, but a perfect seed that remains dry will bear no fruit.

The high-stakes investment made in people – babies, the elderly, and everyone in between ­­- on the other hand, is an unpredictable and eventful affair.  There are much more joys and maybe even more hurts, but the seed that goes into the ground and surrenders its protective casing does not fail to grow.  Casting off the shell of self-preservation and soaking in the sometimes saturated and “a little more than you bargained for” soil makes for a strong tree, complete with robust buds.

Make no mistake. Having babies doesn’t make anyone wise, but God often grants people more wisdom as they raise the children He has given them.   Likewise, caring for the sick, disabled, and elderly isn’t always fun, but God can teach people that love and joy last longer than fun anyway.  And, perhaps most importantly, loving and serving a variety of people may not leave you with much evidence that you have made a difference in the world, but there will be no end to the work that the Lord accomplishes as He carries out His will through you.

Key Question: Is your life investment a seed that will grow and bear fruit?

Unshakable Truth: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.  If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him ( John 12:24-26).

The Real Choice:  Will you follow Jesus to His tree, the cross, where he laid the seed of His life down to bear the fruit that can save sinners like you and like me?