In John 15:2, we read, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”
This verse ties back to the parable of the talents and teaches us an important lesson. Industriousness and productivity result in an increase or fruit. With the first two servants, we find that they doubled the talents entrusted to them. They labored and invested with the talents and yielded an increase.
We find this basic principle with agriculture. Seeds, which are a form of talents, are planted in the ground. The planting requires effort, labor, time, resources, and industry. Planting is an investment. The result of the investment is a harvest of many crops. To bear good crops and a plentiful harvest, the ground must be tilled, and weeds must be minimized. In other words, continual labor is required to produce a harvest each year.
We can apply John 15:2 to the parable of the talents in this way. Pruning is a form of chastisement and discipline in Christ. We can interpret pruning as producing greater obedience and commitment to Christ. The commitment and obedience of the two servants were refined for greater work, and this process is continual.
Through John 15:2 and the parable of the talents, we also find that work is a necessity in the kingdom of heaven. We should anticipate work in heaven and that a harvest or increase from our labor will continually be expected. A key principle we understand about the kingdom of heaven is that faithfulness results in more duty in addition to improving the original talents. The same principle is repeated in the parable of the sower and seed in Mark 4:1-12 (see verse 8).
To be sure, the two faithful servants were placed in charge of more than was initially entrusted to them. In Matthew 25:21, we read, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” This scene is repeated in verse 23.
Work is continually expected of us, and our work is expected to yield an increase. Some decry building wealth and would rather depend upon others. However, wealth and an increase are byproducts of work. Although accumulating wealth may corrupt the individual over time, an increase is a natural byproduct of work.
In the kingdom of heaven, we are continually expected to work and to yield an increase. It is a principle embedded into human nature. We should not be afraid of building wealth as a result of work. We must avoid, however, pride, envy, and coveting which lead to incorrect handling of wealth or improper pursuits of wealth.
In our work, particularly in the backdrop of the kingdom of heaven, we must be guided by the advantage of our own souls and the advantage of the souls of others. Matthew 22:39 Our work and the increase achieved through our work must be to the advantage of our own souls and to the advantage of the souls of others.
Do not be afraid of wealth and success. We work for God’s glory. God saw fit to entrust Christ’s possessions to us. Investing His possessions often leads to an increase, and we must not be afraid of the increase. Only do not live for yourself. We will ultimately face accountability not only for our faithfulness but also for our righteousness and love for others. In other words, we are accountable for both yielding an increase and managing the increase attained.
The unfaithful servant in the parable of the talents refused to work. Work was expected, and an increase or fruit from his labor was required. The unfaithful servant shunned both, and the refusal to honor Christ was reckoned to him as unfaithfulness.
Like this post? Subscribe to stay up to date on new posts.