Fruit Again

John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.


Jesus seems to love this fruit stuff. Jesus is correct n that fruit contains seeds that when they are grown produces much fruit. The fruit dies and rots often supplying nourishment for the seed which does not die but rather changes. In life we think in terms of hard work bears fruit, winning the competition gets us ahead. Sometimes it is even defeat the other person or be defeated. The world tells us to get ahead and to get ahead at all cost. I have watched men and women fail as husbands, wives and parents as they invested everything in getting ahead. 


Jesus suggests that real victory comes from dying to self. Come to think of it he didn't just say that he lived it to the fullest extent on the cross. He won not only victory for himself but for all of us as well. That is the economy of God. What we give away to others brings even greater blessing to ourselves. This spiritual reality works counter to the teaching we get from the world.


I must say I have experienced both in my life. I was an intense competitor in sports and life. My wife would say correctly I might add that I wouldn't throw a game of fish to a four year old. I played to win at everything with everyone. I must also say I felt good about winning. I must also say that those good feelings were nothing compared with the benefits of dying to self and serving others.  I will gladly live in God's economy now as often as possible.