Producing Fruit that Lasts

In South West Florida, many neighborhoods have homes with beautifully decorated entrances. The owners place flowering plants on their doorsteps and entryways that get changed with the seasons. These plants are engineered to bloom for a time, and then as soon as they look “spent,” they are pulled out and changed for something new. In contrast, the landscaping was more permanent in the Midwest, where Jim and I first met. Most of the flowers were perennial, and trees were allowed to mature over time (I suppose much of this has to do with the winter months, but that’s another blog for another time!) 

The thing is, for plants to thrive over time, they must be well-tended and cared for; their root system needs to be healthy, and regular pruning and fertilizing must be done.  

There is so much we can apply to life from this simple comparison. We can be like the Florida landscaping, looking nice and neat for a season, producing beautiful blooms for others to see, adding a splash of color and excitement for a time. Then, when we have served our purpose, be plucked from the ground and replaced by something new and fresh, becoming irrelevant and unappealing.

Or we can be like the more mature Midwest landscaping, permanent in nature, allowed to grow tall and strong.  Able to withstand the strong winter winds and hot summer days, bearing fruit and flowers year after year, providing shade and structure.

Psalms 92:14 the psalmist paints a picture of lovers of God that “even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” That’s what I want for my life.  I want to grow strong in my faith over the years so that even in my later years, I’m still producing fruit, vital and green.  

What does that look like? I can imagine that it might mean feeding into the lives of those younger than me. Or it might be finding someone walking a similar vocational path and teaching them from my failures and victories. Or perhaps it will be engaging with my passions and giftings in a new way. Aging doesn’t need to signal a “changing out for something (or someone) new.”  It can simply be a sign to dig deep and produce fresh fruit for this new season of life. 

The iRetire4Him Podcast and iRetire4Him Book are focused on helping you prepare for and move into the next season of life with purpose and calling. Check them out for: 

1.     Tips on being well fed by Scripture 

2.     Challenging conversations on what to keep in life and what to allow God to prune

3.     Resources that help you learn, grow, and mature

Lord, today in my relationships and work, help me produce the fruit you have determined so that I will remain vital and green now and into my old age. May I build relationships that can be nurtured with time and be drawn close to you.  

- Martha

About the Author, Martha Brangenberg

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Martha has been involved in small business her entire life. Gifted with an attention to detail and a sweet sensitive spirit, Martha is a servant leader with a deep faith in Jesus.

Producing Ripe Spiritual Fruit

Have you ever had a word that just rubs you wrong because of a past experience or person who used it negatively? 

Recently, Jim and I were talking about the idea of maturing in Christ, and Jim mentioned that the word “maturing” rubs him wrong because as a kid, he remembers people telling him to grow up and be more mature when he was having fun. So, instead of trying to overcome the negative association, we began to explore other words to use in place of it and landed on the term “ripen.” 

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to ripen is “to bring to completeness or perfection.” 

In John 15:5, Jesus uses this metaphor of fruit to refer to godly character and conduct. He says, “yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” Later, this same fruit is referred to in Galatians 5:22-23 as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These characteristics are the spiritual fruits that Jesus is developing or ripening in the lives of those who love him. 

With that in mind, let’s talk about fruit trees. I grew up in Minnesota, where apple picking is a typical fall tradition. If you’ve ever been to an apple orchard, you know that many of the trees have fruit scattered on the ground that has fallen off the branches due to wind. Generally, there are three types of apples you find in the grass: the ripe, the premature, and the rotten.  

The fruit can be hard to tell apart on the branches, but on the ground, it becomes exposed for what it is. If it is ripe, it produces pleasure and delight; if premature, it produces a sour bitterness; and rotten, a horrible distaste. When the branches are shaken, the true fruit is revealed. 

When life shakes us, what fruit – what characteristics – are revealed? 

How do we respond when we are passed by for a promotion, when the diagnosis is bad, when a friendship is broken, a job is lost, or money is tight? What fruit falls? In these moments – I believe the true condition of a heart is shown. And oh, how desperately, we should each desire that the fruit that falls is the ripe fruit of a godly life as listed in Galatians, not the immature fruit of anger or the rotten fruit of hatred and resentment. 

Lord, today I ask that you ripen your fruit in my life. Help me not grow any rotten fruit, but fruit that will bring others closer to you. In my work, produce good fruit for others to experience, and when I get bumped by a co-worker, I pray that my ripe fruit will be the first to fall.  

In Jesus’ name – Amen!

- Martha

About the Author, Martha Brangenberg

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Martha has been involved in small business her entire life. Gifted with an attention to detail and a sweet sensitive spirit, Martha is a servant leader with a deep faith in Jesus.