PARABLE OF THE FIG TREE

Jesus expresses the Father's displeasure towards unproductivity

“Then Jesus told them this parable; ‘A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree and I haven’t found any. Cut it down!

"Why should it go on using up the soil? But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, Sir, just this one year, I will dig a trench around it and fill it up with fertilizer. Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much better; if not, then you will have it cut down’.” (Luke 13: 6 – 9,TEV)

We Are The Plantings of God

We are made to understand in scriptures that we are the products of God, we are His plantings. Talking about Jesus and the duplication of His personality in us, Paul the Apostle said, ‘Except a corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone, but when it dies, it brings forth much fruits.' John 12:24

In this parable, the fig tree here represents man –you and I, the plantings in the vineyard of God.

Are You Bearing Fruits?

Farmers and gardeners give much attention to their plants. They buy the seedlings, (or get the stem) clear the bush, till the soil, manure it, make ridges when necessary, plant the seed, water it and watch for it to grow. They spend time around it to ensure they are not trampled upon.

They make edges around the field, and even erect scare crows to keep the birds away. Then the seeds grow into tender plants, and later to a tree.

Now, imagine if it matures and doesn't bear fruits.

What a waste! No wonder the owner asked the gardener to cut it down. Already it has wasted so much resources.

We have received so much investment from God, yet we are unproductive. We have refused to allow the will of God manifest in our lives. We want to enjoy our lives to the fullest, (as some would put it).

Right from birth, God has kept and served you. And now, it is time to serve Him, and you have become too busy to serve Him. You want your own life to go your own way, nothing more. This leads to an unproductive, unfruitful living. This would lead to destruction but Christ intercedes. He pleads our case before the Father.

”Give Him Some More Time, Father”

Greater than the intercession of Moses for Israelites before God, Christ Jesus intercedes on our behalf. In the story, the master wants to destroy the fig tree, but the servant begs, ‘Let me dig a trench around it, and fertilize it, hopefully it will in the next year’.

Most of us have had not just a second chance, but third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth chances to bear fruits, to serve God, to respond to his expectation but we have refused.

We are so attached to the world that we forget so soon that God doesn’t waste His resources. His gifts and callings are without repentance, but God is not mocked. If we reciprocate His gift with nonchalance, then we might miss His very best.

Live For Christ; Bear Fruits

As you read this now, there are people in the lake of fire, under serious torment wishing they had listened and obeyed a simple advice like the one you are reading. Their extra time expired, and they weren’t still changed. Before Jesus shared this story, he was talking about repentance in the earlier verses (1–5). He used this parable to round off the teaching.

‘What are fruits?’

Fruit here refers to the positive results your life is yielding. They are the fruits of righteousness, the fruits of care and love, reflected on others. It is the quality ‘impacts’ your life is making on the lives of other people, and in the kingdom of God. Also, it is the soul you have won and grown for God.

May the Lord help us to bear fruits in Jesus name. Amen.

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