“…and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Mark 4:19
These words are part of Jesus’ explanation of the Parable of the Sower. In this verse, Jesus explains what happens that leads to spiritual unfruitfulness. Note the three items:
(1) The cares of this world. We have responsibilities in this world, but when they become a cause of anxiety, or when they are more important to us than the affairs of the kingdom of God—unfruitfulness is inevitable.
(2) The deceitfulness of riches. Whenever we are more driven to have the world’s riches than treasure in Heaven—unfruitfulness is inevitable.
(3) The desires for other things. This is the catch-all that encompasses anything else that steals our affections and/or priorities away from the Lord. And notice Jesus didn’t say, “the desire for sinful things.” The things that cause unfruitfulness can be anything—even good things. But when anything becomes more dear to us than Jesus—unfruitfulness is inevitable.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us have a healthy fear of unfruitfulness. Unfruitfulness is the first step toward falling away. And Jesus speaks of unfruitfulness as a synonym of not being saved!
Spiritual fruit is not measured the way we measure worldly success. It is, rather, a reference to the fruit of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
And how does one bear fruit?
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:5-8
Fruit is not the result of trying harder. Fruit is the result of surrendering and abiding more.