Luke 6: 44
For every tree is known by his own fruit. (KJV)
Matthew 21:19
And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. (KJV)
I’ve often heard people say things like “My father was a Bishop” or “My grandfather was a Pastor” in an effort to validate their position or who they are currently. Phrases like the aforementioned are said with pride and are also often used to indicate why a person may feel like they deserve certain positions or titles or to somehow make themselves superior to others. What we need to realize, is that statements like that only validate our roots, or history. When you think of a tree, you can’t see the roots, you have to trust that they are there and are in a condition to support the good health of the tree. Just as we can’t ordinarily see the tree roots, we wouldn’t know the root or history of a person, short of them telling us, or if we are familiar with them and their family.
Just as the bible states in Luke 6:44, a tree is known by his own fruit. We are not given extra points or extra credit because of who our forefathers were or what position they held. What fruit do you bear? When the rubber meets the road, the only thing that we will be rewarded for is our fruit, or lack thereof, as in the story of the fig tree. The fig tree had leaves but no fruit when Jesus came to it, and the tree was “rewarded” for the lack of fruit.
It’s never too late to do an introspection. No one can tell us where we stand as far as the fruit we have produced or failed to produce. It’s also never too late to produce fruit.
