Mensa Otabil - Be Fruitful
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Well, we’re still discussing fruitfulness. We will talk about it this week and next week, so there’s quite a bit of ground to cover. We’ve spoken a bit about it. Now we turn to Genesis chapter 1, verse 28. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, «Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.»
To be fruitful simply means to grow, to blossom, and to be productive. So, when God says, «Be fruitful,» He is commanding man to blossom, to grow, and to be productive. It means to produce results that are beneficial and profitable. God instructed Adam to be a productive person; that’s the first thing He told him: «Be fruitful.» He could have told him many things; He could have said, «Worship Me,» which is important. He could have said, «Pray every day,» which is also important. He could have said, «Just listen to Me,» which is important too.
But among all of these, God first instructed him to be a productive person. That means that all we do as Christians—whether we’re praying, studying the Bible, living holy lives, or living righteously for the Lord—must lead us to be productive people. Because if we do all these things and none of it makes us productive or does not produce results, then it’s just an activity. Our lives must ultimately be productive.
Adam had to produce everything he needed from what God had already created. God put him in the garden. God gave Adam trees but never built furniture for him. If Adam wanted furniture, he had to go to the trees and make furniture out of them; that was his job. God planted vegetables and fruits for him, but God never cooked for Adam. Adam had to learn to put all these together to make a meal. God invested so much knowledge in His world, but He didn’t write a physics book or a biology book for Adam. Adam had to discover the laws of nature in the world that God had created for him.
This tells you that part of fruitfulness lies in discovery. Part of fruitfulness is in taking what God has given us and using it productively and beneficially. Of course, part of it is having babies, having children, but that’s only one aspect of being fruitful or being productive. We become productive in many other areas of our lives.
So when God said, «Be fruitful,» it was not only to Adam; it is to all of us, to the human race: «Be fruitful.» «Be fruitful» is an imperative; in other words, you can’t choose, «Oh, I want to be fruitful» or «I don’t want to be fruitful.» You have to be fruitful; it’s a divine command.
Three concepts emerge from that. First, when God says «Be» something, it means you have what it takes. God will not say «Be fruitful» if you don’t have the capacity to be fruitful. Each one of us has what it takes to be fruitful. Secondly, to be something means to show it, to demonstrate it. So, fruitfulness cannot just be something inside you that nobody sees; it has to be seen, manifested, and produced. It must be out there.
When we’re living fruitful lives, it has to be visible; it has to manifest. Being fruitful is a command to obey; it’s not a suggestion. It’s not God’s opinion left for you to determine whether it’s right or wrong. No, it’s God’s command: We must be fruitful. He didn’t say, «Try to be fruitful.» He didn’t say, «Attempt to be fruitful.» He says, «Be it.» So, I have no excuse, and you have no excuse not to be fruitful.
Next week, we’ll look a little at how God views us when we are not fruitful and how God treats us. Just understand that it’s a command; we have to manifest it, and we have what it takes. So, be fruitful. That’s my message to you today.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, I accept Your command for me to be fruitful. From today, everything I touch flourishes. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. Be fruitful. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom; peace and life to you.