What are the spoils of fear? The things that become rotten in our lives when fear consumes us. When it dominates our hearts, minds, and spirits.
Bearing Fruit
I have an opportunity to lead a men’s group at our church. We have met every single Wednesday, at 7:00 a.m. for as long as I can remember. It’s a group that consists of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds. Those Wednesday discussions are full of life, leadership, and faith.
This past Wednesday, we had an interesting discussion. The devotional that we read talked about the need for love in this world. Love is one of the fruits of the spirit that emerges as we grow in our faith. The other fruits we bear as a result of our connection to our faith is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. All good things when we are responsible for leading others.
The Spoils of Fruit
As the discussion ensued, I asked the question, “What is the opposite of those fruits?” Fear emerged as one of the primary responses.
We have a fruit rack on the counter at the house. Apples, bananas, limes, lemons, pears, you name it. The problem is that when we neglect to eat or tend to the fruit, it spoils. One bad apple leads to a bad pear, which leads to a bad banana.
Just like the fruit, fear has its spoils. Fear provokes negative thoughts and emotions that impact our growth and overall well-being.
Our group discussion that morning made me wonder, “What are those things that are born out of fear? What are the spoils that come with the rotten fruit of fear?”
Worry
One of the most consuming spoils of fear is worry. Worry is one of the most unproductive things we can do. Worry leaves us focused on an outcome that may or may not ever happen.
I often wonder if we documented our list of worries in life and leadership, how many of those things ever came to fruition. Probably, very few of them. Instead, we wasted time and energy worrying about something that was well out of our control.
Cynicism
Fear produces cynicism. Cynicism lacks trust, it lacks optimism, and lacks anticipation. Cynicism is a lens in which we look at the negative, not the positive.
Cynicism is generated from experiences that did not go well in our past. We apply those experiences to the future. What didn’t work then, may work today. Fear applied from the past, will prevent us from moving forward in the future. It leaves us standing still.
When we think we know how the story ends, it will leave our book of life and leadership incomplete. The story ends where it left off.
Uncertainty
Fear generates uncertainty. Nobody likes uncertainty. It’s in our human nature to desire to be in control of things. Uncertainty makes the future foggy. It’s hard to see what is coming down the road of life and leadership.
Uncertainty leaves us spinning our wheels, Stuck where we are. The associated anxiety produces paralysis. We go nowhere, better nothing, and produce nothing. Uncertainty can permanently stunt our growth.
The challenge is that most things are uncertain, rather than certain. It’s the game of life and leadership.
Conclusion
Winston Churchill said it best, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”
While the spoils of fear can lead to discouragement, we have a choice in the matter. It’s pretty clear that spoiled fruit doesn’t taste as good as fresh fruit. It’s an either or. A piece of fruit can’t taste good and be spoiled at the same time.
Think about the positive fruits we talked about earlier. The ones that are fresh off the vine, full of wonderful taste. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It’s hard to experience worry, cynicism, and uncertainty if we are tasting the good fruit. It’s either the good or the bad, both cannot exist at the same time.
It’s really a daily choice we make in the face of our circumstances. We choose the good or we choose the bad tastes in life and leadership. It’s a matter of perspective.
The important question is, what fruit are we harvesting in our own world’s? The fruit we produce can have a significant impact on those around us. Don’t spoil the opportunity.