Fruitfulness Is Not Optional: How to Live a Life That Produces Results.

“Mathematics is the manipulation of numbers; if you understand how to work with numbers, you will get what you are looking for.”

This statement from Pastor Flavia Murugi might not feel relatable, especially if math wasn’t your favourite subject, but her point was simple: when you understand the principles behind something, you can work with it effectively. The same applies to your faith.

In school, we remember the teachers who broke down complex concepts until we understood them. Jesus, the greatest teacher who ever walked this earth, did exactly that. But His lessons weren’t just about understanding; they were transformational. It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. – John 6:63 (NKJV)

His words aren’t suggestions. They carry life. They carry power. When you sit under His teaching, apply it, and abide in Him, success is guaranteed. The moment you gave your life to Jesus, you entered a divine window of grace: a season marked not just by forgiveness, but by fruitfulness. God doesn’t save us and then leave us idle. He saves us, appoints us, and then calls us to produce evidence of our relationship with Him.

Fruit, in the Kingdom, is tangible evidence of spiritual reality. It’s transformational, not superficial. It changes you and everything around you. Real salvation leaves you marked by change. There is a distinct before and after, and along that journey, your life should begin to bear fruit that reveals your connection to Christ.

As Pastor Donald Gichane emphasised in the family service, being chosen means you’re expected to be fruitful. John 15:2 (NKJV) Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Being chosen by God automatically places you in a position where fruitfulness is expected. It’s not optional. It’s not reserved for church leaders or “super Christians.” Every believer is called to bear fruit; to live a life that is Spirit-led, glorifying to God, and beneficial to others.

In Matthew 21:18-19, Jesus approaches a fig tree expecting to find fruit, but there are none. He responds by cursing the tree, and it withers. Fruitfulness is not optional in the kingdom of God; it’s the natural outcome of a connected and obedient life. It begins with internal transformation and external character. Colossians 1:10 (NKJV) that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What does fruitfulness look like? You may ask, well, there are two types of fruit that every believer should be producing:

• Behavioural Fruit – This is the evidence of your daily life; your character, how you treat people, how you handle pressure, how you love. This is the fruit of the Spirit becoming visible in your everyday actions. Galatians 5:22-23
• Multiplication Fruit – This is the outworking of your unique divine assignment. The ways you are advancing God’s Kingdom through your calling, whether in ministry, business, family, or creative work. John 4:36

In Matthew 13, Jesus explains why not everyone produces fruit in their lives. The problem isn’t the seed (God’s Word), it’s the soil. Matthew 13:8 (NKJV)But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. The condition of your heart will determine the fruitfulness of your life. You don’t force an apple tree to bear apples; you nurture the soil, ensure all the conditions are right, and fruit comes naturally. It’s the same with your spiritual life: Stay connected to Jesus, the True Vine, and your life will naturally begin to bear fruit.

That said, certain practices prepare your heart to bear lasting fruit:

• Transformation of the mind – Romans 12:2
• Genuine repentance – Matthew 3:8
• Discipleship – Growth through intentional learning and relationship
• A Spirit-filled life – The Holy Spirit empowers fruitful living
• Evangelism – Sharing Christ multiplies your fruit (Colossians 1:6)
• Right judgment – Spiritual discernment keeps you on the right path (Matthew 7:15-20)

Are you bearing fruit where you’re at?

(Resources to Deepen Your Walk)

• Centre Church by Tim Keller
• More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell