Privilege, responsibility, and the privilege of responsibility

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

 

As Christians, many times we want the privilege of encountering Jesus without seeking his face first. Or we want the benefits of spiritual maturity without the growing up. We want the blessings of generosity without the sacrifice of giving. The spiritual blessings found in Jesus Christ are given to all whom He saves. However, we all recognize those who seem to thrive in their walk with Jesus, who seem to radiate holiness wherever they go. Is there a "secret" to the Christian life? There is. It's called bearing fruit and being pruned. 

 

PRIVILEGE

Jesus says we should all abide in Him, the vine, and that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:4-5). This is the great privilege of the redeemed sinner, to be able to abide in Jesus and live a new life through Him to His glory. To know Him, Paul says, surpasses all other things (Philippians 3:8). Therefore, the privilege is not so much being able to heal people or to prophesy, to preach or lead worship well. Nor is it even to raise a great family, have an incredible marriage or have a well established financial plan. The great aim of the Christian life is to abide in Christ. That is our utmost privilege.

 

RESPONSIBILITY

But abiding is also our top priority. This is because Jesus wants us to bear fruit, not just abide. Bearing fruit is our great responsibility. If we don't abide we won't grow, and if we don't grow we won't bear fruit. God has prepared good works for us to walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). We are to be earnest and zealous in them (Titus 2:14). Additionally, spiritual gifts and spiritual disciplines are not only privileges but also responsibilities. The bottom line is that if we are only a church who is content with the privilege of abiding in Christ but not with the responsibility of bearing fruit through Him, then our privilege will be given to another. 

 

PRIVILEGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Part of the privilege of abiding is being pruned for greater responsibility. Many times I reach a point in my spiritual adulthood that is more childish than mature: I feel I've arrived and that I'm beyond being pruned. Often we might believe and feel like we're bearing fruit like nobody’s business and that it's the best fruit in the kingdom. All the while we fail to realize and recognize that God wants to prune us, make us faithful in more and, therefore, fruitful in more. At some point a child, a teenager or an adult must come to understand that having responsibility is a privilege. Many times we think a privilege has nothing to do with hard work and everything to do with the rewards of hard work. But in the kingdom of God our full reward is at the end, when Jesus returns. For now our reward is to serve God in His kingdom while on earth. We do this by building one another up, loving our neighbor and serving our city, all through the preaching of the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Let us rejoice that in Jesus we are privileged sons and daughters of God and heirs of His kingdom. And let us rejoice that we are called to do good works, works prepared for us, works for which He lovingly prepares us.