our growth (Rom. 14:7). Self-will, self-sufficiency, self-indulgence,
1. Unbelief.—'So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief' (Heb. 3:19). This poisons the tree at its very root. Christ can do no mighty works in us, or for us, because of unbelief (Matt. 13:58). 'Only believe' (Mark 5:36). 'Have faith in God' (Mark 11:22). 'All things are possible to him that believeth' (Mark 9:23). 'He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water' (John 7:38).
2. Want of love.—No love, no fruit; much love, much fruit (Heb. 10:24). 'Labour of love' means the labour which love produces, to which love stimulates (1 Thess. 1:3). Love is by its very nature fruitbearing. When 'love waxes cold' (Matt. 24:12),—when we 'leave our first love' (Rev. 2:4), then everything that deserves the name of fruit dies away. If there be fruit at all, it is poor and unripe. Our zeal is the zeal of Jehu (2 Kings 10:16); our warmth is false fire; our energy is the vigour of the flesh; our work is the work of men urged on by a false stimulus; our words, however earnest, are the words of excited self. If any one ask, How am I to get love? I answer, Look to Jesus, deal with Him about it, learn anew to love by learning anew His love to you. I do not say 'Work, and that will stimulate you to love.' No. It is not first work, and then love; but first love, and then work. Get more love by dealing more with Jesus personally, and then love will set you all on fire. You will work unbidden; you will work in the liberty of fellowship and in the joy of love (1 Thess. 3:12; Gal. 5:6; 2 Cor. 5:14).
3. Selfishness.—(Mark 8:34.) Self in all its forms is a hindrance to our growth (Rom. 14:7). Self-will, self-sufficiency, self-indulgence, self-importance, self-glory, self-seeking, self-brooding,—all these mar fruitfulness. Denying SELF is the beginning, the middle, and the end of our course here, as followers of Christ. Selfishness takes the form of covetousness, or love of money; of luxury, or love of meats and drinks, and the good things of this life; of religious dissipation, or love of excitement; of spiritual restlessness, or running from meeting to meeting, or book to book, or opinion to opinion, or minister to minister; of craving for religious stimulants and spices, with loathing of what is tame or common, however good and true.