HOW TO SUSTAIN A LIFE OF FRUITFULNESS
By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
Mark 4:16, "And these are they likewise
which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately
receive it with gladness;"
Development lacks any substance until it is sustainable.
The success of an individual is not determined by how much he or she possesses
at any given instance but on how sustainable his or her businesses are. Success
can only be said to be when there are successors. Abraham was singled out by
God because he understood the importance of raising successors, the scriptures
say in Gen 18:19NLT “I have singled
him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of
the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I
have promised." God’s promises
extends from generation to generation, He wants us to leave a legacy that will
be enjoyed by generations yet unborn. Our grandchildren should not go through
some of the pains we went through in life; in the light of this, the scriptures
says in Prov 13:22 “Good people
leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the sinner's wealth passes to
the godly.”
Our commitment to scriptures is
critical in the building of an enduring future for our grandchildren; great
families in politics and business are the products of great grandparents who
invested in the future. In Mark 4:13-20 the scriptures reveals the various
degrees of commitment to God’s word and their corresponding outcomes.
Jesus derides the fellow who receives
the Word, even with great joy but soon fell apart under the pressures of life
because they had not been deeply rooted in the word of God. Such persons are
very sentimental and easily manipulated by the enemy. A plant must develop a
strong root system to sustain its growth; likewise we must become deeply rooted
and grounded in the Word of God. When we overemphasize visible growth as a
yardstick of God’s blessings on
an individual we soon become impatient and loose grounds on the truth of God’s Word and become vulnerable to
Satan’s antics. When
we begin to judge our spirituality and progress based on physical qualities such
as money, properties, fame etc we become unsettled and unfruitful. A person may
not manifest any of those, that don’t mean they aren’t making progress. Great trees like the great Chinese
bamboo tree spend over a year growing roots deep into the soil; it’s a rare occurrence to hear of
bamboo trees being uprooted by hurricanes.
Seeds planted in shallow soils tend to germinate
and grow faster than those planted in deep soil. Great trees put all of their
energy towards developing sustainable roots first while weak trees put their
effort into the growth of the plant above the ground; therefore, it is unwise
to compare yourself with someone experiencing very rapid growth, such persons
could appear to be ahead of you in so many aspects of life but they never last.
They are usually without successors. It is unwise to get offended over slow but
steady growth on the account of someone else’s hasty success story, the scriptures say in 2 Cor
10:12 “Oh, don't
worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who
tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with
each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!” Do not allow yourself get distracted
by those who misunderstand God’s process of development. Slow steady growth isn’t a curse. Time will tell
eventually. The more we meditate on God’s word the more we are developing deep roots for a
healthy growth (Joshua 1:8) . We are to maintain an attitude of gratitude
during the period when there is no physical growth because of the assurance of
a glorious future ahead. 2 Cor 4:16-18 “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are
dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are
small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly
outweighs them and will last forever! So
we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things
that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the
things we cannot see will last forever.” You have a great future.
prayer/counseling:(call,text)+234 809 853 6911, Partnership +234 803 5536 911
Email. michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment