1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
Read Luke 13:1-9 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
During one of the parables Jesus shares, we learn about a vineyard that has a fig tree that is not producing fruit. In this journal entry, I want to dig in to what the manager of the vineyard promises to do for the coming year, and analyze whether his methods are more likely to result in fruit, or lack of fruit.
In verse 8 we read the manager’s response, “Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.” The manager asks for more time, and promised to give extra special attention to this fig tree with the hopes that it will bear fruit. This manager seems to promise the fig tree everything it needs to survive, and then some, as a last chance effort to convince it to be fruitful.
We could say that this tree has one “easy” year ahead of it.
But what the manager does not know, that we do, is for plants to be the most “fruitful” they must be “pruned”, and pruning hurts. Pruning involves taking everything away that is not necessary (all the “dead” stuff) and it involves hurting what is left.
The manager would be best suited to cut 60% of the branches off the fig tree, in addition to the digging and fertilizing), because through trials we become fruitful. Trials show others what we are made of, and they bring out our “fruit”.
So what does this say about our lives today?
Are you living a “good” or “easy” life? If so, you may not be as fruitful as God would want you to be.
Have you overcome a major trial or setback? If so, what has it taught you and are you using what you learned from it to help those around you?
Often times, the trials in our past are the seeds God uses to bless those we meet. Our journey to God’s ideal for us might follow a path of overcome trials.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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