"Do nothing" or "Be nothing"?

From yesterday's text:

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. John 15:5

A friend of mine sent me this quote from Henri Nouwen, a Catholic theologian who lived and worked in the late 20th century: “The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her vulnerable self.”

This certainly resonates with my own personal experience. I've seen many men, with great potential for the kingdom, be derailed by a pursuit of their own reputation over that of God. Their heart would seem to be in dissonance with that of John the Baptist who said: "He must increase and I must decrease."

Yet in this text, Jesus says that "Apart from me you can do nothing." The implication then is that when someone abides in him, they are able to do something.

How are we to synthesize these two seemingly disparate ideas, wanting to make an impact and invest ourselves in things that will last, and at the same time not wanting to build our own fame. It seems to me that the reason that this can be a difficult determination to make is that the true motivation is often hidden only within the heart and mind of the individual.

I don't think that it is by accident that the opening verse in John 15 says: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." God is in the business of cutting away those things in us which do not bear fruit.

It brought to mind another familiar quote from a theologian and teacher of my own denomination, A.W. Tozer who wrote: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply.” And one more from the Apostle Paul: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor 12:9b)"

So back to the question, is it okay to desire to have an impact, to make a difference, to "be something not nothing"? Or should we aspire only to "be nothing," to abide in Christ and to allow him to use us in whatever way seems fit? It is a good question and one that I don't have a definitive answer for. What I do know is that both of these have one thing in common - a desire to see God's name made famous. On that there is no disagreement. These are the very heart attitude that the great vinedresser desires to prune into his branches that they might bear fruit.

Would you pray with me then, a prayer of David: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24)