Barren fig tree
Luke 13:6-9
Luk 13:6 And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any].
Luk 13:7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?
Luk 13:8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil].
Luk 13:9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.
Vs 6 – God is looking for fruit in our lives.
Vs 7 – Mans answer to someone who is not producing fruit is to get rid of it and start over. It is the Bill Cosby idea of parenting “I will get rid of you and make another just like you!” Sometimes we even approach our selves the same way, we feel as though we are not growing enough or don’t love God enough and we think of ourselves as needing to be “cut down” because we are “Taking up room” and “why should we (it) take up the good ground from others”.
I love Gods reply to us, to the Devil (he is the one who brings those thoughts) and what God says to others!
Vs 8 – “Leave it alone” then he says “Give it more time”. You know we get frustrated and want to give up long before God ever does! But notice what he wants to do “till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]”. I know the manure idea doesn’t sound nice but really it is a great thing. Manure is used to cause things to grow and that is what God is looking to do for you.
He wants to take the time to bring people in your life to put manure on you (LOL man I love the mental image) so that you can grow and mature! Who has God brought into your life to help you to grow, if there is no one in your life to “manure you” (no one to speak into and challenge you spiritually) then ask God to bring people, the right people to help you!
Who can you spread some manure on? LOL man I still love the mental image of this…sorry I know I am a little demented but this is what you get! It is awesome how much God cares about you and I…enough to never give up on us!