When I lived in California as a kid, my neighbor had a couple of big lemon trees in his backyard. They got so big that the branches grew over my side of the fence. According to state law, anything that grows on your side of the fence belongs to you. So, I had fresh lemonade all the time.

That memory comes to mind when I read Genesis 49:22, where Jacob blessed his son Joseph by saying, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall."

Joseph was fruitful, even when he was far from home in Egypt. He got married, started a family, and named one of his sons Ephraim, which means fruitful. And as prime minister, Joseph was fruitful to the world in protecting them from famine.

He was also faithful to God, even when he was alone. Nobody around Joseph believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. His solution to his trials was to move closer and closer to God.

Joseph was also generous in his abundance. He used Egypt’s resources to bless others—even his brothers who betrayed him. His fruit wasn’t just for himself—it overflowed for others.

Jesus put it this way: "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit" (John 15:5). Abide in Me. Stay close to Me. Our branches mature when we live close to God and bear fruit that doesn't just bless ourselves but also blesses others.

I believe that's the meaning of what Jesus said in John 7, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (vv. 37-38). That is, he will not merely satisfy himself. He'll become a vessel to bless other people.

Whatever you have in your life, it's been given to you by the Lord. Do you see yourself as a vessel to give it to others? If you're only taking in—never blessing people with your growth, your spirituality, what you learn, your principles, your finances, your money—you're spiritually dead.

Jacob either judged or blessed his sons based on what they had done years before. One day, we will stand before our Father—not in judgment for our sins (that was taken care of on the cross)—but to be rewarded for what we've done, or to have our reward taken away.

Our position and place in the future kingdom depends on what we have done with what God has given us here. That's why Paul said, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Many Christians don’t consider the future judgment, where God will evaluate what we did—or didn’t do—for Him on Earth.

Jesus said, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). How do you do that? Get busy about His business. C.T. Studd said, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."