Volume 27: Gifts Attract Attention, Fruit Reveals Christ

Day 131 Devotional

GIFTS ATTRACT ATTENTION, FRUIT REVEALS CHRIST

You can have gifts without fruit, and too many people confuse the two. Two friends recently told me that the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit were basically the same thing. At first glance, that assumption sounds worth considering. After all, both come from the Holy Spirit, both appear in the life of believers, and both are evidence of God’s work. But the more we talked, the more I realized how many Christians have unknowingly blended these two biblical concepts together. The problem is that when you confuse fruit and gifts, you can begin measuring spiritual maturity by the wrong standard.

This distinction matters because Scripture never presents fruit and gifts as identical. In fact, understanding the difference may protect you from one of the greatest deceptions in modern Christianity: mistaking spiritual activity for spiritual maturity.

GOD GROWS FRUIT, BUT HE GIVES GIFTS

One of the clearest differences between fruit and gifts is found in how they are obtained.

Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” Notice that Paul does not say “fruits” as though believers can pick and choose which ones they prefer. He uses the singular word “fruit” because these qualities are intended to develop together as evidence of a life being transformed by the Spirit.

Fruit requires growth. Fruit requires cultivation. Fruit requires abiding in Christ. Just as fruit on a tree develops over time, spiritual fruit develops through obedience, surrender, discipline, testing, correction, and daily dependence upon God.

Jesus explained this in John 15 when He described Himself as the vine and believers as the branches. Branches do not manufacture fruit independently. They produce fruit by remaining connected to the source of life. Disconnect the branch from the vine, and the fruit eventually dies.

Gifts operate differently. According to 1 Corinthians 12, the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts according to His own will. These gifts are not earned through maturity, education, personality, or effort. They are graciously given by God for the benefit of the body of Christ.

Paul lists gifts such as the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 provide additional gift lists including teaching, exhortation, leadership, serving, evangelism, and shepherding.

Fruit grows. Gifts are given.

THE FRUIT IS FOR EVERY BELIEVER

Another major distinction is that every believer is expected to bear fruit.

God never commands some Christians to be loving while excusing others from love. No believer is exempt from joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control. These are not optional characteristics reserved for a select group of Christians. They are evidence of spiritual life itself. And we are commissioned to know one another by our fruit. So, when people show you who they are, believe them.

Fruit is meant to be shared among all believers because it reflects the character of Christ. Every disciple is called to become more like Jesus.

Gifts are different. Scripture explicitly teaches that gifts are distributed individually. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 12, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?” The obvious answer is no.

Not every believer receives the same gift. God intentionally distributes different gifts throughout the body so that believers depend upon one another rather than themselves.

Fruit is universal. Gifts are individual.

HOW GOD IDENTIFIES HIS PEOPLE

Perhaps the most important distinction is found in how Scripture tells us to identify genuine disciples.

Jesus never said the world would know His disciples by their gifts.

He did not say they would be known by miracles. He did not say they would be known by prophecy. He did not say they would be known by speaking in tongues. He did not say they would be known by supernatural manifestations.

Instead, Jesus declared, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Love is fruit.

This is why fruit is a more reliable indicator of spiritual maturity than gifts. Gifts reveal what God may do through a person. Fruit reveals what God is doing in a person.

A person may preach powerfully and still be arrogant. A person may prophesy accurately and still be rude and unkind. A person may move in extraordinary spiritual gifts and still lack holiness, humility, forgiveness, patience, or self-control.

The presence of gifts does not automatically prove the presence of godly character.

GIFTS CAN IMPRESS PEOPLE WHILE FRUIT PLEASES GOD

One of the most sobering passages in the entire Bible is found in Matthew 7:22-23.

Jesus says, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”

Notice what these people point to. They point to gifts. They point to supernatural activity. They point to ministry accomplishments.

Yet Jesus responds, “I never knew you: depart from me.”

Their gifts impressed people, but their relationship with Christ was absent.

This is why believers must never build their confidence solely upon spiritual experiences. The question is not merely whether God has used you. The question is whether you know Him and whether His character is being formed within you.

The fruit of the Spirit becomes the visible evidence that the life of Christ is taking root in the heart.

DON’T CONFUSE SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH NATURAL TALENTS

Another common mistake is confusing spiritual gifts with natural abilities.

A person may be naturally gifted in music, leadership, communication, business, athletics, organization, or public speaking without possessing a spiritual gift in those areas. Talents are part of God’s common grace and can be found among believers and unbelievers alike.

Spiritual gifts, however, are empowered by the Holy Spirit and given specifically for the edification of the body of Christ and the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

A gifted speaker may have talent. A Spirit-anointed teacher possesses something far deeper than talent alone.

Natural talent can attract a crowd. Spiritual gifts build the church. One comes through human ability. The other operates through divine empowerment.

WHICH ONE ARE YOU DEVELOPING?

Many believers spend their lives chasing gifts while neglecting fruit. They desire power but avoid pruning. They want to disciple people, but they fail to show genuine love to them. They want influence without transformation. They want public ministry without private surrender.

Yet Jesus consistently emphasized fruit.

In fact, He said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit” (John 15:8).

God is certainly pleased to distribute gifts to His people. We should desire to be used by Him. We should steward every gift He has entrusted to us. But we should never forget that fruit is the evidence of abiding, maturity, and genuine discipleship.

The healthiest believer is not the one with the most impressive gift. The healthiest believer is the one whose life increasingly resembles Jesus Christ.

Because at the end of the day, gifts may attract attention, but fruit reveals connection to the Vine.