Bearing fruit is a common illustration in the Bible because it fitly describes the process of one practicing God’s word. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3-8), it is the good ground that receives the seed and brings forth much fruit. In order to be good ground, we must take in the word of God and allow it to change our thinking and actions. Psalm 1:3 describes the righteous man as, “a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.” Let’s notice three truths of Psalm 1:3 that are also illustrated in Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches.
First, the righteous man is planted in the right place to produce fruit. He is “planted by the rivers of water.” He is next to the life-giving stream. One must be planted in Christ to bring forth proper fruit. Jesus gives an illustration of a vine and branches in John 15. In verse 5 he says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” It is impossible to bring forth proper fruit to God if one is not connected to Christ. One may do a lot of good deeds, but unless one gets into Christ by the initial obedience to the Gospel, one cannot bring forth fruit unto God (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27). There will be those on judgment day who will insist they have done many good deeds, but Christ will reply, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Second, once one is planted in the proper place, one must bear fruit. The righteous man “brings forth his fruit.” God’s plan for us is to bear fruit once we are in Christ. Consider Romans 7:4-5, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.” Jesus concludes His illustration of the vine and branches by saying, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” (John 15:8).
Third, the righteous man not only is fruitful, but he is fruitful at the right time. He brings forth fruit “in his season.” Jesus said in John 15:2, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” We learn that we must not languish in the fruit-bearing process. The Lord’s will is that we bear more fruit. If we do not bear fruit, then we will be taken away. Thus, the time to bear fruit is now, lest we lose the connection we have to the source of life. Too many put off bearing fruit until later only to find that it is too late. We must be ready for harvest time.
May we all strive to be like the righteous man described in Psalm 1. If we are planted in the right place, in Christ, if we bring forth fruit, and if we do it at the right time, then we will be righteous. We are known by our fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).
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