This is where it all started.

God created all things in Genesis 1:1-25.  Then He dedicated three verses to the creation of man.  At a very high level, He said this:

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …”

27 God created man (human) in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

28 God blessed them; and God said to them (command not forced-free will), “Be fruitful and multiply…”

In verse 26, He declared what He wanted to do.  In verse 27 He created man (human) in two parts male and female.  In verse 28, He commissioned man. Let’s examine verse 28 deeper.

Genesis 1:28. “God blessed them.”  This means that He gave all of us all we ever need to carry out the call He has for our lives.  What He gave us is a blessing, so we can be successful in fulfilling the two commands He gave us.

God said, “Be fruitful and multiply…”. Too often this is read as a single instruction…be fruitful by multiplying. This is actually two commands…1) be fruitful and 2) multiply.  

Be fruitful means bear fruit, as an apple tree bears fruit.  It bears fruit in season, with every season bearing more fruit as it grows.  This also applies to man.  We are to bear fruit in our season, and as we grow in skills and experience, we bear more fruit in our subsequent seasons. 

Multiply means more than making babies, though that is part of it.  Inside the meaning of the original word for multiply also means to be “great” in our fruit and in our lives.  Not just increasing fruit, but that the fruit would become great.  What is one way for our fruit to become great?  By the impact it has on others, not just the impact it has on us. 

The evaluation of this for each manager or leader will come from those we manage, lead and influence. A “CEO” is only successful if someone is following. He or she is not successful because they have a title, they are successful due to their impact they have those who are following.