Fruitfulness vs. Productivity
There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability. And fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability, community is the fruit born through shared brokenness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another's wounds. Let's remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness.
Bread for the Journey, Henri Nouwen
A few years ago, I thought I was a master of productivity. I enjoyed organizing my planner, checking off the to-do list, and seeing how much I was able to achieve. Even prayer was on my to-do list. My mind was constantly generating ideas about what I could do in my career, future, ministry, and personal life. During this season, I could see that I was getting a lot done, however, I was not seeing much fruit. My productivity absolutely led me to success, but not fruitfulness. I was accomplishing many things exteriorly, but I felt dry and stagnant interiorly. There was no growth. This is because we are not called to merely produce, rather, we are called to abide in Him so we can bear good fruit.
Productivity is based on doing. Fruitfulness is rooted in being.
“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
Fruitfulness requires that we remain connected to the true vine, Jesus. It does not come from what we do, but from who we are. Fruitfulness comes from a state of being, enjoying and resting in God's presence. Prayer helps us remain connected to our Father, flowing from a heart beating for love of Him.
Productivity comes from control. Fruitfulness comes from surrender.
A life of fruitfulness takes time and complete surrender to God. It is slow, invisible, sometimes painful and requires patience to see the outcome, but when that season comes, we will flourish and bear fruit unimaginable. God promises this to us when we remain in Him.
In the world, we are required to give great input to see great output. When we abide in Jesus, only a little is required for something great. God wants us to bear the juiciest of fruits, which can only come from Him alone. When abiding in Him becomes a way of life, we will come alive and thrive.
A Pathway to Fruitful Living:
Maintaining a relationship with God through Prayer and Sacrament - Mass, Confession & Adoration
Learning - through scripture, spiritual reading and teachings
Self-awareness - knowing who you are in and living according to God’s design in you
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
