Jesus taught this lesson in John 15:1-8:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I may not have perfect insight into my own life right now, but I think I am in a time of pruning, but you judge for yourself from the following evidence. Here is a list of things I have stopped doing in 2018:
- I did not lead a team to Kenya in February for the first time since 2008.
- I ended my weekly leadership radio broadcast that I had for three years on December 31.
- I resigned from my assistant director position for a local university program.
- This week, I will teach my last two college classes for the year. This will be the first time I have not taught since 2007.
- When I finish editing my commentary of Revelation in May, I will no longer be adding content to my Bible study blog (I will have the entire New Testament on that blog site by then).
My birthday is this coming Thursday but I am not retiring in any way, shape, or form. I am simply doing a bit of self pruning so I can be more fruitful. What i am experiencing is what I have referred to as the funnel effect of purpose.
THE FUNNEL EFFECT
A funnel is wide at the top and very narrow at the bottom so that liquids may be poured into something with a small opening. When you begin your PurposeQuest, you are at the top of the funnel. The whole world and all its options are available to you. Then something happens and it can unnerve you and make you uncomfortable. As you progress down the funnel of purpose, you may begin to feel restricted in your activity. Things you once did have no meaning or you lose your enthusiasm for things you once had energy to do. You also may find that you evaluate everything you do differently. As you go down the funnel, you find there is no room or time to do some of those things that are no longer related to your purpose.
Some are concerned that their lives will be less meaningful if they get to the bottom of the funnel. They can’t see how God can use them when they seem to be doing so little. To the contrary, the bottom of the funnel is your point of greatest effectiveness. It is at that point where you find what you do that no one else can do. While it seems restrictive, that point allows God to send you anywhere in the world that needs who you are and what you do. The narrow point is why the funnel exists; without it, there would be no purpose for the the larger, top portion of the funnel.
God is narrowing my activity so I can be more effective with greater impact. My pruning that is restricting my activities is actually making me more focused. This year I should finish and publish six books while helping an estimated 25 others to publish theirs by serving as their creative consultant and editor. I am doing more media, mostly video, and I am also speaking more on leadership issues, while I consult and coach for those who want to be better leaders.
What are you holding on to that is restricting the funnel effect in your own life? Is your fear that you won't have any money causing you to hold on to some activities that have lost their life and interest for you? I urge you to follow my lead and embark on a self-pruning journey. Allow God to take you to new places that will lead to new fruitfulness as you let go of things that are important and dear, but cannot make the trip down your funnel with you as seek your point of maximum potential and usefulness. Have a blessed week!
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