Forms of LoveSample

A Fruitful Branch

In the early 1960s, the accountancy faculty where I was studying started teaching ‘Communication,’ because most accountants were good with figures but not written and verbal communications. One of the final tests – a competition – was to speak to the examiners. We had to explain how we would sell a business to prospective buyers, then recite a poem – I quoted ‘The Touch of the Master’s Hand’ – and finally spoke for 10 minutes on a subject of ‘great interest’.

I chose ‘4 Forms of Love’: firstly, the love between a man and a woman; then, the love between a mother and child; next, the love of a man for his wife and children from watching my father’s struggles returning from World War II; and finally, God’s love, sending Jesus to die for sin in order to bring us into God’s family. I finished by quoting John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world…’

I won first prize, and over the next few months fellow students came to ask me about that love. All facets of love come from God, but our human perspective is flawed. However, with Jesus in us, the fruit of the Spirit can be evident – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

As branches grafted into the vine, we bear fruit so others can ‘taste and see how good the Lord is’. Our lives speak more than our words, creating opportunities to tell them how to receive Christ. Be a fruitful branch for God.

Written by DAVID SMETHURST