THE PARABLE OF THE BARREN FIG TREE

WEEKLY WORD: The year 2020 has been a year like no other. It has been the most difficult, the most challenging and for some the saddest year of their lives.
Jesus told a story of the unfruitful fig tree that has a special challenge for us as we launch into 2021. A man planted a fig tree in his vineyard. When the time came for the tree to bear fruit the man came and found nothing. He came back the following year and again there was nothing. And the same happened in the third year.
So, he said to the manager. We may as well cut this tree down. It is useless. It is taking up space and producing nothing. The manager replied, “Let’s give it one more year, one more chance. Let me dig around it and fertilize it and if it then produces fruit, good. But if not then we will have to cut it down.
THE DESIGN OF THE OWNER
The fig tree was specifically planted in this man’s vineyard. It didn’t just spring up from nowhere. It was placed and planted in the vineyard for the specific purpose of producing fruit.
You and I have been deliberately placed in God’s vineyard to produce fruit. As a child of God, you have been given a specific purpose. Jesus said, “I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” (John 15.16)
The fig tree was there for one purpose only – to produce fruit. It is the same with us. We are here to produce spiritual fruit. The fruit of a changed life.
Can people see a change in your life? Can they see fruit? The Bible gives us nine characteristics called, “The fruit of the Spirit”. These are nine things that should flow out of your life if you really are a growing, maturing Christian. These are – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness and Self-Control. (Galatians 5.22,23)
THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE OWNER
After all the time, and care and effort spent on this tree the owner came and found nothing. He had every right to expect fruit. It was his tree and his vineyard – but it produced nothing. For 3 years he came expecting fruit and found nothing.
How many times God has come to you looking for fruit and found nothing? There might be an outward show – the branches and the leaves but no fruit. It is just a waste of space.
We are like that tree – planted in a very select corner of God’s vineyard. We are in a country with tremendous privileges. We have great freedom to practise and share our faith. Our life expectancy is double that of our forefathers. We have been planted in the very best soil.
Fig trees look very impressive from far but when you get closer there nothing but leaves. You can do all the things that religious people are expected to do. You can use the right expressions and observe all the right traditions. And still, be a barren fig tree.
THE DECISION OF THE OWNER
The manager is prepared to give it one more chance. One more year to prove itself and produce fruit. He will dig around it and fertilize it and give it another year. It is just like God’s dealings with us. He longs for us to produce fruit and wants to give us another chance.
He gives us one more year, one more opportunity to produce fruit to reflect His presence in our lives. So He digs around and brings things into our lives that we may not understand.
Troubles and trials are there to produce fruit in our lives. He is involved helping us, motivating us – pleading, prodding and coaxing us to bigger, better things.
This parable was “open-ended”. The listeners have to supply the conclusion. Did the tree bear fruit? Did the special care accomplish anything? Was the tree spared or cut down? We have no way to know the answers to these questions, but we can answer as far as our own lives are concerned. Again, the question is not “what happened to the tree?” but “What will happen to me?”
As we come to the end of this year God is reviewing our lives. He is giving us another year to produce fruit.
Welcome, 2021.