One day while my husband and I were walking we began discussing some trees in our neighbor’s yard. I was admiring the beautiful colors of the spring flowers and all her trees in full bloom. One type of tree stood out with it’s gorgeous bright pink petals. Since my husband works with trees, I asked him what it was. He said, “It is a cherry tree”. I have lived next to our neighbors for several years and if there were cherries on that tree they would have fallen across the fence and into our yard. I must have had a puzzled look on my face because the next words out of his mouth were, “It is an ornamental Cherry tree, it doesn’t produce fruit”. Those words hit me like a brick and just kept ringing in my head…no fruit. He continued to tell me they were known for their explosion of showy flowers in the spring but only have small bitter berries.
As I thought about his words, Matthew 7:16-20 ran through my mind. You shall know them by their fruit. A good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. Every tree that bringeth not good fruit is hewn down. Can we become ornamental Christians? Especially in the Spring around Easter, we get all dressed up on Sunday morning and greet everyone with a smile, while carrying our bibles where everyone can see it. We know the right “church” words, know all the stanzas of Amazing Grace, and we even put a little money in the offering plate. Beautiful Flowers to see. What happens the rest of the week? Are we showing or producing kindness to every one we meet or generosity to those in need? What about self-control in all we do? Are we faithful in our walk with the Lord when no one is looking? How are we doing with loving our neighbor? The bible says in Galatians 5:22-23 these are the fruits we should be producing for others to see. Good fruit so others will glorify God, not us.
The bible tells another story in Luke 18:9-14 of a Pharisee and a publican. Both went to the temple to pray, however the Pharisee stood and prayed a prideful prayer in view of everyone, while the publican stood afar off and humbly would not even lift his eyes up to heaven. Jesus said the publican went down to his house justified rather than the Pharisee. Everyone that exalts himself shall be abased or made low, but he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Are we real disciples or ornamental christians? Do we explode with showy blossoms for a short season but never produce anything for the kingdom of God? My husband relayed to me that once the flowers fall off and the tree begins to die, it is good for nothing but firewood. We need to be a good tree, that not only produces good fruit but leaves seeds for others.
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