Nothing

In the Bible, Jesus makes some strong, worthy of eyebrow-raising statements. These truths cut to our hearts, convict us, and show us how we should be living and submitting to Him. One such statement that bears a lot of weight and doesn’t seem to get the attention it deserves comes in John 15:5. Here, Jesus says this:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

What does this mean when Jesus says that we can’t do anything apart from Him? What about the many successful people who are not believers, who attribute their accomplishments to themselves? 

We can indeed do things in life on our own. We can build a career or form a family without following Jesus. But it is only with Jesus that we can use our lives to do that which has real, lasting, eternal value. Only by abiding in Him can we bear fruit and do anything that impacts God’s Kingdom. Everything aside from that, according to Jesus, amounts to nothing. 

This has always been true. Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:14, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.” Everything that is done on earth lasts only here and now. But the years and the centuries pass, and along with them, everything men and women work for. 

This is also why Jesus used the illustration of building your house on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27). It is wise to abide in Jesus and live our lives for Him. If we build our lives on Him, they will stand firm through the storms. But for those who do not heed Jesus’ words, their house will fall. 

What are you working for? What have you accomplished? Are you doing it through and for Jesus? The reality is that apart from Him, we can do nothing. It is sad to think that all those who strive for things “under the sun” are, ultimately, not accomplishing anything. But by abiding in Christ, He will work through and use us for His purposes.