The parable of the talents in the Gospel of Matthew also addresses the theme of growth and fruitfulness, but from a different perspective. A master goes away on a long journey, entrusting different portions of his fortune to three servants until his return. Two of the three invest the money and double it. The third buries his treasure and reaps no profit for his master. When the master returns, he praises the first two servants for their faithfulness. He condemns the third for wasting the opportunity before him (Matthew 25:14-30).
So what is the fruit in the first parable? What are these talents in the second? There seem to be two common candidates we could explore for these. The first is that of personal holiness, and the second is the making of new converts to the faith. Which would you say you prefer? Christians have faced this question throughout history. What is more important? Should I focus more on personal godliness, or should I focus more on leading others to Jesus? Should I primarily concern myself with the Great Commandment, to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37)? Or should I primarily concern myself with the Great Commission, to “make disciples of all nations” (28:19)?