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Matthew 16

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1 και G2532 CONJ προσελθοντες G4334 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM {VA 1: [οι] G3588 T-NPM } {VA 2: οι G3588 T-NPM } φαρισαιοι G5330 N-NPM και G2532 CONJ σαδδουκαιοι G4523 N-NPM πειραζοντες G3985 G5723 V-PAP-NPM επηρωτησαν G1905 G5656 V-AAI-3P αυτον G846 P-ASM σημειον G4592 N-ASN εκ G1537 P EP του G3588 T-GSM ουρανου G3772 N-GSM επιδειξαι G1925 G5658 V-AAN αυτοις G846 P-DPM

2 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM {VA 1: [[οψιας G3798 A-GSF } {VA 2: [οψιας G3798 A-GSF } γενομενης G1096 G5637 V-2ADP-GSF λεγετε G3004 G5719 V-PAI-2P ευδια G2105 N-NSF πυρραζει G4449 G5719 V-PAI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ουρανος G3772 N-NSM

3 και G2532 CONJ πρωι G4404 ADV σημερον G4594 ADV χειμων G5494 N-NSM πυρραζει G4449 G5719 V-PAI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ στυγναζων G4768 G5723 V-PAP-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM ουρανος G3772 N-NSM το G3588 T-ASN μεν G3303 P T προσωπον G4383 N-ASN του G3588 T-GSM ουρανου G3772 N-GSM γινωσκετε G1097 G5719 V-PAI-2P διακρινειν G1252 G5721 V-PAN τα G3588 T-APN δε G1161 CONJ σημεια G4592 N-APN των G3588 T-GPM καιρων G2540 N-GPM ου G3756 P T-N {VA 1: δυνασθε]] G1410 G5736 V-PNI-2P } {VA 2: δυνασθε] G1410 G5736 V-PNI-2P }

4 γενεα G1074 N-NSF πονηρα G4190 A-NSF και G2532 CONJ μοιχαλις G3428 N-NSF σημειον G4592 N-ASN επιζητει G1934 G5719 V-PAI-3S και G2532 CONJ σημειον G4592 N-NSN ου G3756 P T-N δοθησεται G1325 G5701 V-FPI-3S αυτη G846 P-DSF ει G1487 COND μη G3361 P T-N το G3588 T-NSN σημειον G4592 N-NSN ιωνα G2495 N-GSM και G2532 CONJ καταλιπων G2641 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM αυτους G846 P-APM απηλθεν G565 G5627 V-2AAI-3S

5 και G2532 CONJ ελθοντες G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NPM οι G3588 T-NPM μαθηται G3101 N-NPM εις G1519 P EP το G3588 T-ASN περαν G4008 ADV επελαθοντο G1950 G5633 V-2ADI-3P αρτους G740 N-APM λαβειν G2983 G5629 V-2AAN

6 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM ορατε G3708 G5720 V-PAM-2P και G2532 CONJ προσεχετε G4337 G5720 V-PAM-2P απο G575 P EP της G3588 T-GSF ζυμης G2219 N-GSF των G3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων G5330 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ σαδδουκαιων G4523 N-GPM

7 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ διελογιζοντο G1260 G5711 V-INI-3P εν G1722 P EP εαυτοις G1438 F-3DPM λεγοντες G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NPM οτι G3754 CONJ αρτους G740 N-APM ουκ G3756 P T-N ελαβομεν G2983 G5627 V-2AAI-1P

8 γνους G1097 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S τι G5101 I-ASN διαλογιζεσθε G1260 G5736 V-PNI-2P εν G1722 P EP εαυτοις G1438 F-3DPM ολιγοπιστοι G3640 A-VPM οτι G3754 CONJ αρτους G740 N-APM ουκ G3756 P T-N εχετε G2192 G5719 V-PAI-2P

9 ουπω G3768 ADV νοειτε G3539 G5719 V-PAI-2P ουδε G3761 ADV μνημονευετε G3421 G5719 V-PAI-2P τους G3588 T-APM πεντε G4002 A-NUI αρτους G740 N-APM των G3588 T-GPM πεντακισχιλιων G4000 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ ποσους G4214 Q-APM κοφινους G2894 N-APM ελαβετε G2983 G5627 V-2AAI-2P

10 ουδε G3761 ADV τους G3588 T-APM επτα G2033 A-NUI αρτους G740 N-APM των G3588 T-GPM τετρακισχιλιων G5070 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ ποσας G4214 Q-APF σπυριδας G4711 N-APF ελαβετε G2983 G5627 V-2AAI-2P

11 πως G4459 ADV-I ου G3756 P T-N νοειτε G3539 G5719 V-PAI-2P οτι G3754 CONJ ου G3756 P T-N περι G4012 P EP αρτων G740 N-GPM ειπον G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP προσεχετε G4337 G5720 V-PAM-2P δε G1161 CONJ απο G575 P EP της G3588 T-GSF ζυμης G2219 N-GSF των G3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων G5330 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ σαδδουκαιων G4523 N-GPM

12 τοτε G5119 ADV συνηκαν G4920 G5656 V-AAI-3P οτι G3754 CONJ ουκ G3756 P T-N ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S προσεχειν G4337 G5721 V-PAN απο G575 P EP της G3588 T-GSF ζυμης G2219 N-GSF {VA 1: [των G3588 T-GPM αρτων] G740 N-GPM } {VA 2: των G3588 T-GPM αρτων G740 N-GPM } αλλα G235 CONJ απο G575 P EP της G3588 T-GSF διδαχης G1322 N-GSF των G3588 T-GPM φαρισαιων G5330 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ σαδδουκαιων G4523 N-GPM

13 ελθων G2064 G5631 V-2AAP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM εις G1519 P EP τα G3588 T-APN μερη G3313 N-APN καισαρειας G2542 N-GSF της G3588 T-GSF φιλιππου G5376 N-GSM ηρωτα G2065 G5707 V-IAI-3S τους G3588 T-APM μαθητας G3101 N-APM αυτου G846 P-GSM λεγων G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NSM τινα G5101 I-ASM λεγουσιν G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3P οι G3588 T-NPM ανθρωποι G444 N-NPM ειναι G1511 G5750 V-PXN τον G3588 T-ASM υιον G5207 N-ASM του G3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου G444 N-GSM

14 οι G3588 T-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ειπαν G3004 G5627 V-2AAI-3P οι G3588 T-NPM μεν G3303 P T ιωαννην G2491 N-ASM τον G3588 T-ASM βαπτιστην G910 N-ASM αλλοι G243 A-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ηλιαν G2243 N-ASM ετεροι G2087 A-NPM δε G1161 CONJ ιερεμιαν G2408 N-ASM η G2228 P T ενα G1520 A-ASM των G3588 T-GPM προφητων G4396 N-GPM

15 λεγει G3004 G5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις G846 P-DPM υμεις G5210 P-2NP δε G1161 CONJ τινα G5101 I-ASM με G3165 P-1AS λεγετε G3004 G5719 V-PAI-2P ειναι G1511 G5750 V-PXN

16 αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ σιμων G4613 N-NSM πετρος G4074 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S συ G4771 P-2NS ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S ο G3588 T-NSM χριστος G5547 N-NSM ο G3588 T-NSM υιος G5207 N-NSM του G3588 T-GSM θεου G2316 N-GSM του G3588 T-GSM ζωντος G2198 G5723 V-PAP-GSM

17 αποκριθεις G611 G5679 V-AOP-NSM δε G1161 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S αυτω G846 P-DSM μακαριος G3107 A-NSM ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S σιμων G4613 N-VSM βαριωνα G920 N-P I οτι G3754 CONJ σαρξ G4561 N-NSF και G2532 CONJ αιμα G129 N-NSN ουκ G3756 P T-N απεκαλυψεν G601 G5656 V-AAI-3S σοι G4671 P-2DS αλλ G235 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM πατηρ G3962 N-NSM μου G3450 P-1GS ο G3588 T-NSM εν G1722 P EP {VA 1: [τοις] G3588 T-DPM } {VA 2: τοις G3588 T-DPM } ουρανοις G3772 N-DPM

18 καγω G2504 P-1NS-C δε G1161 CONJ σοι G4671 P-2DS λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S οτι G3754 CONJ συ G4771 P-2NS ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S πετρος G4074 N-NSM και G2532 CONJ επι G1909 P EP ταυτη G3778 D-DSF τη G3588 T-DSF πετρα G4073 N-DSF οικοδομησω G3618 G5692 V-FAI-1S μου G3450 P-1GS την G3588 T-ASF εκκλησιαν G1577 N-ASF και G2532 CONJ πυλαι G4439 N-NPF αδου G86 N-GSM ου G3756 P T-N κατισχυσουσιν G2729 G5692 V-FAI-3P αυτης G846 P-GSF

19 δωσω G1325 G5692 V-FAI-1S σοι G4671 P-2DS τας G3588 T-APF κλειδας G2807 N-APF της G3588 T-GSF βασιλειας G932 N-GSF των G3588 T-GPM ουρανων G3772 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ ο G3739 -ASN εαν G1437 COND δησης G1210 G5661 V-AAS-2S επι G1909 P EP της G3588 T-GSF γης G1093 N-GSF εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S δεδεμενον G1210 G5772 V- PP-NSN εν G1722 P EP τοις G3588 T-DPM ουρανοις G3772 N-DPM και G2532 CONJ ο G3739 -ASN εαν G1437 COND λυσης G3089 G5661 V-AAS-2S επι G1909 P EP της G3588 T-GSF γης G1093 N-GSF εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S λελυμενον G3089 G5772 V- PP-NSN εν G1722 P EP τοις G3588 T-DPM ουρανοις G3772 N-DPM

20 τοτε G5119 ADV {VA 1: επετιμησεν G2008 G5656 V-AAI-3S } {VA 2: διεστειλατο G1291 G5668 V-AMI-3S } τοις G3588 T-DPM μαθηταις G3101 N-DPM ινα G2443 CONJ μηδενι G3367 A-DSM ειπωσιν G2036 G5632 V-2AAS-3P οτι G3754 CONJ αυτος G846 P-NSM εστιν G2076 G5748 V-PXI-3S ο G3588 T-NSM χριστος G5547 N-NSM

21 απο G575 P EP τοτε G5119 ADV ηρξατο G756 G5662 V-ADI-3S {VA 1: ιησους G2424 N-NSM χριστος G5547 N-NSM } {VA 2: ο G3588 T-NSM ιησους G2424 N-NSM } δεικνυειν G1166 G5721 V-PAN τοις G3588 T-DPM μαθηταις G3101 N-DPM αυτου G846 P-GSM οτι G3754 CONJ δει G1163 G5904 V-PQI-3S αυτον G846 P-ASM εις G1519 P EP ιεροσολυμα G2414 N-ASF απελθειν G565 G5629 V-2AAN και G2532 CONJ πολλα G4183 A-APN παθειν G3958 G5629 V-2AAN απο G575 P EP των G3588 T-GPM πρεσβυτερων G4245 A-GPM και G2532 CONJ αρχιερεων G749 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ γραμματεων G1122 N-GPM και G2532 CONJ αποκτανθηναι G615 G5683 V-APN και G2532 CONJ τη G3588 T-DSF τριτη G5154 A-DSF ημερα G2250 N-DSF εγερθηναι G1453 G5683 V-APN

22 και G2532 CONJ προσλαβομενος G4355 G5642 V-2AMP-NSM αυτον G846 P-ASM ο G3588 T-NSM πετρος G4074 N-NSM ηρξατο G756 G5662 V-ADI-3S επιτιμαν G2008 G5721 V-PAN αυτω G846 P-DSM λεγων G3004 G5723 V-PAP-NSM ιλεως G2436 A-NSM-ATT σοι G4671 P-2DS κυριε G2962 N-VSM ου G3756 P T-N μη G3361 P T-N εσται G2071 G5704 V-FXI-3S σοι G4671 P-2DS τουτο G5124 D-NSN

23 ο G3588 T-NSM δε G1161 CONJ στραφεις G4762 G5651 V-2APP-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S τω G3588 T-DSM πετρω G4074 N-DSM υπαγε G5217 G5720 V-PAM-2S οπισω G3694 ADV μου G3450 P-1GS σατανα G4567 N-VSM σκανδαλον G4625 N-ASN ει G1488 G5748 V-PXI-2S εμου G1700 P-1GS οτι G3754 CONJ ου G3756 P T-N φρονεις G5426 G5719 V-PAI-2S τα G3588 T-APN του G3588 T-GSM θεου G2316 N-GSM αλλα G235 CONJ τα G3588 T-APN των G3588 T-GPM ανθρωπων G444 N-GPM

24 τοτε G5119 ADV {VA 1: [ο] G3588 T-NSM } {VA 2: ο G3588 T-NSM } ιησους G2424 N-NSM ειπεν G2036 G5627 V-2AAI-3S τοις G3588 T-DPM μαθηταις G3101 N-DPM αυτου G846 P-GSM ει G1487 COND τις G5100 X-NSM θελει G2309 G5719 V-PAI-3S οπισω G3694 ADV μου G3450 P-1GS ελθειν G2064 G5629 V-2AAN απαρνησασθω G533 G5663 V-ADM-3S εαυτον G1438 F-3ASM και G2532 CONJ αρατω G142 G5657 V-AAM-3S τον G3588 T-ASM σταυρον G4716 N-ASM αυτου G846 P-GSM και G2532 CONJ ακολουθειτω G190 G5720 V-PAM-3S μοι G3427 P-1DS

25 ος G3739 -NSM γαρ G1063 CONJ εαν G1437 COND θελη G2309 G5725 V-PAS-3S την G3588 T-ASF ψυχην G5590 N-ASF αυτου G846 P-GSM σωσαι G4982 G5658 V-AAN απολεσει G622 G5692 V-FAI-3S αυτην G846 P-ASF ος G3739 -NSM δ G1161 CONJ αν G302 P T απολεση G622 G5661 V-AAS-3S την G3588 T-ASF ψυχην G5590 N-ASF αυτου G846 P-GSM ενεκεν G1752 ADV εμου G1700 P-1GS ευρησει G2147 G5692 V-FAI-3S αυτην G846 P-ASF

26 τι G5101 I-ASN γαρ G1063 CONJ ωφεληθησεται G5623 G5701 V-FPI-3S ανθρωπος G444 N-NSM εαν G1437 COND τον G3588 T-ASM κοσμον G2889 N-ASM ολον G3650 A-ASM κερδηση G2770 G5661 V-AAS-3S την G3588 T-ASF δε G1161 CONJ ψυχην G5590 N-ASF αυτου G846 P-GSM ζημιωθη G2210 G5686 V-APS-3S η G2228 P T τι G5101 I-ASN δωσει G1325 G5692 V-FAI-3S ανθρωπος G444 N-NSM ανταλλαγμα G465 N-ASN της G3588 T-GSF ψυχης G5590 N-GSF αυτου G846 P-GSM

27 μελλει G3195 G5719 V-PAI-3S γαρ G1063 CONJ ο G3588 T-NSM υιος G5207 N-NSM του G3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου G444 N-GSM ερχεσθαι G2064 G5738 V-PNN εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF δοξη G1391 N-DSF του G3588 T-GSM πατρος G3962 N-GSM αυτου G846 P-GSM μετα G3326 P EP των G3588 T-GPM αγγελων G32 N-GPM αυτου G846 P-GSM και G2532 CONJ τοτε G5119 ADV αποδωσει G591 G5692 V-FAI-3S εκαστω G1538 A-DSM κατα G2596 P EP την G3588 T-ASF πραξιν G4234 N-ASF αυτου G846 P-GSM

28 αμην G281 HEB λεγω G3004 G5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν G5213 P-2DP οτι G3754 CONJ εισιν G1526 G5748 V-PXI-3P τινες G5100 X-NPM των G3588 T-GPM ωδε G5602 ADV εστωτων G2476 G5761 V- AP-GPM οιτινες G3748 -NPM ου G3756 P T-N μη G3361 P T-N γευσωνται G1089 G5667 V-ADS-3P θανατου G2288 N-GSM εως G2193 CONJ αν G302 P T ιδωσιν G1492 G5632 V-2AAS-3P τον G3588 T-ASM υιον G5207 N-ASM του G3588 T-GSM ανθρωπου G444 N-GSM ερχομενον G2064 G5740 V-PNP-ASM εν G1722 P EP τη G3588 T-DSF βασιλεια G932 N-DSF αυτου G846 P-GSM

   

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How to Be Fruitful

Napsal(a) Brian W. Keith
A child holds red raspberries in her cupped hands.

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:8)

A theme found throughout the Testaments is that of bearing fruit. The Lord wants us to be productive. He charges us to be fruitful and multiply. The ancient Israelites had to work hard for survival. Not only is farming, their primary occupation, difficult labor, but following the commandments of Jehovah often required specific sacrifices and duties. In the New Testament the Lord often linked salvation with our effort.

"For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works" (Matthew 16:27).

And not producing fruit was a curse. The barren fig tree was condemned, for it was not doing what the Lord required of it.

This theme of productiveness can also be found throughout the created universe. The Lord did not create anything that is without value or use. The fertile soil of the earth is the seed-bed from which vegetation springs. Plants serve for food, and constantly seem to be producing many more seeds than can possibly come to fruition. Animal life also strives to reproduce itself, to create more of its own. The urge to grow, to build, is universal.

We should not be surprised by this. For it is but a reflection of the Lord's nature. His love is the most productive love of all. It is always reaching out, striving to create, to produce what is good. This is why the universe was created. This is why we were born. Our existence is evidence of His love.

And to us He holds out the opportunity to join with Him in being productive. He is the vine, we can be the branches. From Him we can bear much fruit. We can be touched by His love, and share it with others. We can affect all those around us, producing in them happiness and joy.

How do we become branches of the Lord? We begin by following in His path. We cannot be offshoots of His unless what we do comes from Him. He has given us the Word (the way, the truth, and the life), that we might know what is required of us. As He said in John, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love....This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:10, 12).

Heeding His Word means walking in His ways. We cannot very well touch others with love if we ourselves are not acting the ways of love. Can we in anger, command someone to be good? Can we from contempt look down on others and say all men are brothers? This is what the Lord commanded in Ezekiel, saying:

"If [a person] has walked in My statutes and kept My judgments faithfully - he is just; he shall surely live!" (Ezekiel 18:9)

Good fruit is not produced by diseased plants or trees. To be the Lord's branches requires us to keep His commandments, so that His love might exist in us to be shared with others.

But how are we to produce the fruit of loving our neighbors? The Lord had given us the way of serving others, being useful to them. As He said, "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:26-27).

If we consider it, it is almost impossible to avoid being of service to others in this world. The Lord established a system that virtually demands we devote much of our lives to others. The only way to avoid serving others is to live separated from all others, not receiving anything from them, and not giving them anything in return. Such a hermit's life is almost inconceivable. Even Johnny Appleseed, who stayed as far away from civilization as possible, was of tremendous service by planting apple trees and spreading copies of Heavenly Doctrines of the New Church.

The reality for us is that we will serve others. As children and students, we are under the supervision of others who give us much to do. As young adults we seek employment to earn a living. As spouses we will care for our mates and do household duties. As parents we will take care of the many needs of our children. As friends we will lend a hand to our peers. As senior citizens we will be the anchors of family and cultural values. At whatever age, the Lord would have us be of use to others, branches of His vine, bearing much fruit.

The alternative to being useful is not very attractive. Imagine what it would be like to be deprived of the opportunity to serve others? Without work to do, would we not begin focusing more and more upon ourselves? Would not the frustration break out in anger towards others? Is this not why long hospital stays, unemployment, and retirement without other interests are so devastating? Is not part of the pain for a couple having difficulty conceiving a child, the fact that they are being denied the opportunity of serving as parents? And for the single person, the lack of being useful in a marriage relationship detracts from the service he or she might be. Although the Lord insures that any one can be useful to others, when we are denied the possibility of being useful in even one way, there is a sense of loss, of incompleteness.

There are numerous ways to be of use in this world. One way is by our occupations. Be they chairman of the board or janitor at an all night cafe, the time we spend at our jobs is a way to serve our neighbors, to love them. Another critical way to be of use is in our families. As we relate to our spouse, raise our children, and manage our homes, we are providing a tremendous benefit to our neighbors. Not only are we establishing a foundation for society in our marriages, we are preparing young people to be productive members of society and angels in heaven. These two uses, formal occupations and home life, are perhaps the most important uses we can do, for we spend the most time with them during our lives on earth. As we perform them to the best of our abilities, we are bearing the fruit which makes us the Lord's disciples.

Some of the other uses that the Lord calls upon us to do involve our responsibilities in our communities and our church. To love our neighbors requires us to take an informed interest in what is going on, in our local community and in the world community. Although only some will become directly involved, all can form opinions and participate in electing representatives.

We can also be useful in the setting of our church. Here we have wide-ranging opportunities to enable people to worship their God. From serving on committees or contributing money, to just being present for Sunday morning worship, there are innumerable ways to become branches of the Lord's vine, bringing forth much fruit.

Now, it may seem that all we must do is follow the commandments and do certain good acts and we automatically become angelic. Since it is relatively easy to avoid breaking laws and perform certain actions, all should be saved, right? Well, not exactly. Being useful involves something more than mere adherence to laws and performing our duties. For a person can be very selfishly inclined and do these things. Someone could devote a great deal of energy to serving the neighbor so all will think him a "good" person.

This is of providence, for the Lord insures that all people, both those who truly care for others and those who primarily care for themselves, can serve others. As His rain falls on the just and the unjust, so this world is designed that all will be useful.

But for the fruit we bear to be nourishing, and not rotten within, our motives must stem from the Lord also. Being of use requires that the good we do for our neighbors be good in both essence and form.

How do we bear good fruit? By quietly and secretly shunning evils as sins. As we periodically look at our lives, both what we are doing with our time and our inner thoughts and feelings, we are to identify whatever seems to come from hell. If we place more importance on the things of this world, or our own self image, than on sincerely caring for others, we can see something is wrong.

Perhaps we will recognize that we are working primarily for the money or prestige we receive. Perhaps we will not take a particular job if it will not increase our income enough, or we shy away from aspects of our occupation that will not result in others praising us. What should we do? How do we shun these selfish motivations? Recognizing them as wrong and asking the Lord's help is a start. Then one way to shun these evils is to force ourselves not to think about how much we are making. Perhaps we might also seek for some mundane jobs which are not likely to bring us to the attention of our supervisor.

Whatever we do, it is important that we not give up our jobs. One reason the Lord has provided so many uses is that we continue working even if our motivations are selfish. No young person entering the job market is immune from desiring a large salary so he can spend money freely. He should not seek a low paying job to punish himself, for it is by the very means of working that the Lord can gradually purge away an orientation for self and replace it with a genuine concern for others.

In all the ways we are useful to others, from occupations to child rearing, the Lord can cause us to bear fruit as we become ever more sensitive to what is of hell within us, and attempt to change. Being useful, even if our motives are not pure at first, teaches us, trains us, to care for others. As we perform as well as we can in our roles as friends, spouses, parents, and employees, then the Lord can gradually cause us to see and appreciate the fruit that can be produced from His vine. Love for the neighbor grows as we learn to care by serving others and not just self.

It is not too surprising that most of our sense of self worth comes from our jobs and our home life: where we can be of most use. As we put away excessive concern for ourselves and the world, we grow ever stronger as branches on the Lord's vine. As this happens, our sense of joy and happiness can increase many fold. For as we are truly useful to others we are participating in the Lord's work. We are becoming angels for we are doing His will. It is His love, His happiness, that we are sharing and thereby making our own. With Him as our vine we can bear much fruit, and become His disciples indeed.

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