Good Tree, Good Fruit

I was recently pondering on the fact that it is sometimes hard to measure our effectiveness as leaders. We are often involved in a wide variety of activities: counseling, preaching, teaching, serving those in our families and communities, etc. We may spend a lot of time with some people or situations while with others it seems we function more out of pure duty. We may be more emotionally involved with some people or projects than others. Some things almost demand our attention while we willingly put some things on the back burner. How do we know, with all that is going on, if we are "successful"?

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luk 6:43-45 KJV)

A tree brings forth its own fruit. The good fruit produced from our lives is a matter of our being, not our doing. If we are not a good tree in the first place, it matters not what we do for we will not bring forth good fruit. A heart full of good treasure produces good. A heart full of bad treasure produces bad. God works with us by pruning (the word means training, not punishing) so that we can be more fruitful. He wants the good fruit from us.

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 judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psa 1:1-6 KJV)

Blessedness, being the good tree with the good fruit, comes by not following the counsel of the ungodly, nor taking a stand with sinners, nor moving to a set place of opposition against God. Then we bring forth our own good fruit in our right season.

So maybe the best way to measure our effectiveness as leaders is to ponder how "fruity" we are. Pick the fruit, every now and then as well. Taste it. Is it ripe, is it sweet, is it good fruit? And then as we mix our good fruit together, a wonderful salad comes forth that nourishes the souls of others.