The Fruitless Tree

“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 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?’

'Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

I don't know about you, but if I have put forth effort into something, and I don't see results, especially after several years, I'm done with it. My patience for planting without production is very low. I sort of follow the rule of thumb-- if I haven't used it in a year, throw it out. But I often do this too soon.

If I don't see fruit, and I've worked hard to fertilize and fan the flame, and I still get nothing in retrun, I tend to get discouraged and give up immediately-- oftentimes prematurely.

"For you any time will do." "My time is not yet here." (John 7:6 in reverse order)

The question remains: when do you know if your fruitless time means make a change, wait for God to make a change, or wait for your heart to change?

Even when everything around me feels repetitive and fruitless, even if nothing blooms, and I'm left checking on barren branches, even when all else falls short and disappoints me, even if I have nothing to show for all my effort, will I have enough faith in a God who sees not just a season's end, but The End of all seasons? A God who is the beginning and end of all things, who loves me no matter what I do or what I produce even if no one else cares?

There are roots running deep underground that we can't see. There is life under a seemingly lifeless tree, even under hard, lifeless concrete there is life, but we have to wait. Wait for God to make it rain. We cannot see the vein highways working tirelessly beneath our feet. We only know the here and now. We alter the past in our minds, and we worry about a future that may never happen. We must be faithful by trusting in the unseen, knowing we can only comprehend a part of the process.

Be patient in your fruitless season. It only takes a tiny mustard seed of faith to grow an entire orchard. You never know when you will see buds, but also, know that tomorrow may be pruning or cutting day. So, make each day count. Wait, pray, and ask God to either affirm that it's time to prune, affirm it's time to cut down, or show you how to stop and smell the tiny flowers.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." (Romans 15:1-4)

I want to be able to echo the prophet of old. Scribes copied his words repeatedly, wondering if the words would produce any fruit in future generations.

"Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Hab 3:17-18)

May God be enough for me when I have no other fruit in my life. May I be rooted and established in Him.