You Have Everything You Need

Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? (Isa 5:3-4 NIV)

God expects “good grapes” from His people. Yet, in this current generation, as in many generations before us, many who profess to be God’s people are often deficient in producing good fruit. But, of course, there is an explanation for our sin and unfruitfulness. It is the same explanation given by Adam and Eve.

It has always been a human tendency to think that our sin and lack of service to God is not our fault. It began with Adam, when he said the woman God had put with him gave the fruit to Adam.   If Eve didn’t give him the fruit, he wouldn’t have eaten it. Better yet, if God didn’t make Eve, she wouldn’t have given Adam the fruit, and Adam wouldn’t have eaten it. And Eve, of course, said the serpent deceived her. So whose fault was it?

It is easier to explain any bad fruit we may have produced in our lives by looking around and finding excuses for why we have the bad fruit. It was because I had a difficult childhood or other people were unjust toward me. Some say they can’t live a fruitful life because of the state of the church and the wounds and hurts she has caused. Or, worst of all, maybe it is God’s fault, because He hasn’t helped me or provided the things I need in order for me to overcome my sin and serve Him the way He wants me to.

The Promised Land will always have great fruit and great giants. Faith focuses on the fruit. Unbelief blames the giants. “If only I had more money; If only my family never hurt me; If only the pastor was more anointed.” “If only…. Then I could.” Somehow, our disobedience to God and lack of service to Him is excused because of things that have happened to us. Obedience and service have become optional because the conditions to obey and serve are never optimal. There is always an excuse to go our own way. But, everywhere, in all the Bible, God holds individuals accountable for their obedience or disobedience. Our unrighteousness is our fault. There is never an acceptable excuse to disobey. God will never excuse our failure to serve and obey Him. There are no excuses.

As Isaiah sings in this song of the vineyard, God has built a vineyard, His people, on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and removed all the stones. He planted the choicest vines, built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress. In other words, He has provided the perfect environment for the vineyard to produce good fruit. Nothing is lacking in His provision. So He asks, “What more could have been done for my vineyard?” We have everything we need.

Do you have bad fruit in your life?  Whose fault is it? My bad fruit is my fault. The great news is that every time I have produced bad fruit, it was my fault. This is empowering because it means that I have the power to change and I have the power to produce good fruit. I am not a victim. No one else is controlling me. I am a son of God, a freeman who is empowered to bring forth good fruit unto God! Whatever trouble I am facing, God is providing everything I need to bring forth good fruit. God is doing everything He needs to do, right now, in order that I might bring forth good fruit. He has a solution for me. He has an answer for me. He has a key for me. He has already provided the perfect environment for me!

Let us be fruitful with what we have, for God has provided everything we need.