Neither barren nor unfruitful

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. - 2 Peter :5-9

Today’s verses tie into those we looked at yesterday so it is important that we see the whole package put together.

None of us like to be ‘barren or unfruitful’ in our Christian lives. If we are not diligently adding knowledge of Chris and His word, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love we are failing miserably. We are so short-sighted that we may be considered blind. It can be so bad that we can even forget that we have been cleansed from our sin. In other words, if we are not adding these attributes to our lives we become totally ineffectual in our service for the Lord.

On the other hand if we are adding these traits we will find ourselves no longer barren or unfruitful. It is easy to see why when we look back over the list. Faith is foundational, without it nothing else is going to happen. Growing in knowledge of Christ and His word allows us to have direction and share the truths with others. If we don’t have self-control we will destroy our testimony. If we don’t persevere we will never reap the fruits of our efforts. Without godliness no one will ever see our difference from the rest of the world. When there is no brotherly kindness we turn people away with our mean spirit. Above all else, remember, love one another. It is only by love that people will know that we are Jesus’ disciples.

There is nothing wrong with praying and asking for God to allow us to bear fruit, but let us not forget that we have a role to play as well.