Real Hope: True SuccessPrøve

## Your Success Is In Your Fruit In an age where entrepreneurship is idolized and social media influencers are an actual thing, success is associated with follower numbers, a hefty bank account, and a drool-worthy wardrobe, and photogenic friends. By no means is this the only definition of success, but it’s a very prevalent and dangerously distracting one. If God looked at your life deem whether it was "successful", what do you think He would look for? Our answer to that could make us feel suddenly inadequate. We could rush to correct all the things we think might disqualify us in His eyes and miss His true intention for us. And that is to "bear fruit". I recently heard preacher and teacher Robert Fergusson speak on the topic of success, and He reminded us that God’s first commandment to mankind was to be fruitful. To be successful in God’s eyes, our lives need to produce fruit. That fruitfulness isn’t of our own making, but of our stewardship of the blessing God spoke over us as He gave the commandment. In John 15, Jesus said He is the vine and we are the branches. As branches, for us to bear fruit we need to stay connected to the vine. It’s our lifeblood and the source of nutrients for the fruit we bear. So what is fruit? In a shock to our culture’s system, Galatians 5:22–23 says it isn’t stuff or followers, but ways of being. It’s showing love, patience, joy, kindness, and the list goes on. As you pursue a successful life, make sure you’re pursuing the right kind. ##### Written by Laura Bennett