Growing Fruit On Others’ Trees
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. —1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
What is success?
Success is a constant life theme. Entrepreneurs seek to build successful businesses. Investors are looking for successful investments. Coaches and athletes long to be a part of a successful team. Politicians want to run successful campaigns. Academic institutions work to turn out successful graduates. In many ways, the world is occupied with a driving pursuit for success.
Sadly, people often define success in very personal and even self-centered terms. We measure it by our own experiences compared to others. We think that success is about us ending up on top. We’re successful if we’re the winner. For lots of folks, life choices are determined by answers to questions like, “What’s in this for me? Will this advance my position or agenda? Will this help me achieve my goals and dreams? Will this make me more successful?”
Let’s pause for a moment and think about another kind of success. What if the highest level of success wasn’t about us at all? What if our greatest successes were measured not by what we achieved, acquired, or accomplished but by what we helped others achieve, acquire and accomplish?
A number of years ago, I heard a powerful statement from the head of a particular national ministry. I haven’t forgotten it. When asked about the mission of his organization, he replied, “Our mission is to grow fruit on other people’s trees.”
Initially, I was a bit baffled by the statement. However, the longer I thought about it, the more deeply the statement impacted me. The mission of the organization was about making other people fruitful. The measurement of their success was in how many others they could help succeed in their calling and assignments. They grew fruit on others’ trees!
What a great way to think and live! What if we measured success similarly? What if we awakened each morning with the objective of making someone else’s day better—or life better? What if we spent our time and energy finding ways to “water and fertilize” the gifts, talents, and callings of others? What if we were more concerned about nurturing, encouraging, helping, blessing, strengthening, upholding, and supporting others than being nurtured, encouraged, helped, blessed, strengthened, upheld, or supported by them?
In short, what if all of us decided that, in addition to growing spiritual fruit on our own trees, our mission in life is now to grow fruit on the trees of others also?
Let’s do it!
Pastor Dale
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