Lighthouse Keeper

They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (Isaiah 65:21)

I don’t know where the weird austere theology comes from but I’ve seen it posted on Instagram accounts and preached in churches:

“A tree doesn’t eat its own fruit. You are blessed to be a blessing. Your blessings are for others not you”. It’s dreadful. A bizarre attack on grace and divine Providence that somehow the will of God is not for the individual Christian’s welfare. 

In Isaiah 37:30 a prophecy is given about the attack from the Assyrians:

“This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: “This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. (Isaiah 37:30)

In the third year, the land returns to normal. Year three represents an end to the siege and restoration of the crops for normal harvesting and farming. 

Planting vineyards and eating their fruit is often used to symbolise peace and security for the people of God. It is the correct order of things. 

In the summer, I love to go to the farmer’s market here in town and buy some local produce. There’s a blueberry farmer and his wife who bring containers to sell and I really enjoy talking to them about their blueberry bushes and fruit.  The farmer is always giving me little tips and tells me to freeze them and eat them like sweets “I give them to my grandkids like that, saves their teeth”. He tells me that the blue colouring is good for my brain and has invited me out to the farm if I want to pick some myself. There is a natural overflow of joy and fruit and harvest from the farmer and his wife. They are proud of the work of their hands and the happiness and income it provides to them. Do they eat blueberries? Of course they do! They love eating blueberries and sharing recipes and tips with their customers. To say that the blueberry farmers shouldn’t eat the fruit of their crops is just nonsense. 

Is the air that you breathe a blessing? Is it grace? Of course it is. Is it for you? Again, yes. 

Your Father in heaven blesses you abundantly and the correct posture of a  Christian is to say “thank you” and receive from the generous hand of the Lord. 

Saying it isn’t really for you is Puritan rubbish and not Biblical. Eat the fruit of your harvest. Yes it’s for you.