A Spiritual Dust Bowl

The term “dust bowl” is used to refer to a period of severe drought which occurred in the 1930s. This phenomenon affected much of America’s great plains area and even parts of Canada. High winds combined with lack of rain created perfect conditions for erosion and dust storms. Loose dry soil was carried by strong winds in dust storms dubbed, “black blizzards”. Tens of thousands of impoverished families were forced to abandon their farms due to the repeated years of crop failure. The results were truly devastating. 

We can experience a kind of crop failure in a spiritual sense as well. Satan and those under his sway are happy to provide the high winds of false doctrine, tossing us to and fro (Eph 4:14). And difficult situations that seem to pile on, threatening to overwhelm us, provide the perceived lack of rain. These hard times tempt us to become weary in well doing (Gal 6:9) or to put our hand to the plow and then look back (Luke 9:62). 

To be spiritually unfruitful is to be inactive, disregarding our duties of evangelism, edification, and benevolent work. We must not allow our faith to be eroded. Our congregations and our families will suffer from any period of spiritual drought. The Holy Scriptures describe the truth about unfruitfulness in the life of the Christian. 

Unfruitfulness shows we have forgotten our spiritual blessings. When we neglect nourishment and growth, then we shrink or diminish in the faith. If we are adding to our belief and Biblical foundation, we will never be barren (2 Pet 1:8). According to God’s Word, those who are lacking in this area have forgotten that they were cleansed from their old sins (2 Pet 1:9). We can refocus our efforts by consciously remembering how greatly God has blessed us. We should produce fruit of holiness as a sign of our gratitude (Rom 6:22). 

Unfruitfulness also shows when we are not properly abiding in Christ. Like Ancient Israel, we can experience a famine of hearing the words of God, due to unfaithfulness (Amos 8:11). Rather than going after our worldly desires and compromising the truth, we need to maintain an attitude of submission. Jesus taught that whoever truly abides in Him will bear much fruit (John 15:5). To be a true disciple of Jesus is to commit to living by His teachings (John 8:31-32). 

Ultimately, unfruitfulness will bring divine punishment. The message preached by John the Baptist was echoed by our Lord: “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt 3:10; 7:19). Failing to live by the words of Jesus will bring disaster (John 12:48; 2 Thess 1:8). Let’s make preparation now to not be devastated by a spiritual dust bowl. Let’s get busy bearing fruits of righteousness for God (Psa 1:3; Php 1:9-11).