THE FIG TREE AND YOU

THE FIG TREE AND YOU.

His Words and You 003 22may2013

Jesus cursed the fig tree because He was disappointed at its being unfruitful.

St Matthew narrated this thus -

• ·         Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered. - Matt 21:18-19
• ·         When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. -  Matt 21:20

St Mark also recorded this in his own gospel thus -

• ·         The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. - Mark 11:12-14
• ·         In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" - Mark 11:20-21

Now let us consider the nature of a fig tree. Before a fig tree brings forth leaves, its seeds (buds) come out first, as the leaves advances the fruits grow and multiplies.  So for it to be seen with many leaves (flourishing), fruits are expected to be on it in abundance.

Jesus was hungry when He saw the fig tree. He saw the fig tree blossomed and then the expectation was that fruit will be on it that will take care of His (Jesus) hunger. But alas! A blossomed tree had no fruits on it for Jesus’ hunger.

Therefore Jesus’ disappointment led to a curse on the fig tree.

Jesus even gave a parable according to St Luke -

• ·         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. 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

There is a great concern when a plant that is expected to yield fruits refused to, the owner becomes disappointed. Just the same way a business set up to yield profit. If such business consumes resources without bringing out the expected profit, such business is surely going to shut down either deliberately by the owner, or as a result of bankruptcy.

So God as the owner of the garden here on earth, will not take it easy on His plants that refuse to be of benefit to him. Such plants are either cut off, made to wither or left to find its way to hell where it belongs.

• ·         Remember - The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. - Matt 3:10

Are you fruitful? Will Jesus not be disappointed in you when he investigates your fruitfulness? Are you not risking a curse from your solicitor and advocate? If you are condemned by your solicitor and advocate, what will happen when you get to the judge? Are you not risking eternal damnation?

When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you are enjoying the benefits of being a born again, of being saved, are you not being selfish? Did you invite others to come and enjoy that which you are enjoying? Are you introducing Christ to others? How many people have you brought to Christ? How many lives have you saved? Have you ever gone through the pains of doing all in your power to increase the candidates of heaven?

Many people are waiting for God to bless them, before they can preach to others, before they can give themselves up to do God’s work. Which means, you want to blossom before you start yielding fruits. Good, but the risk is whatever you are not used to when you are still struggling, you may not be able to do at all or do very well when you blossom. And then when you blossom in Christ, and your fruitfulness can not measure up to your blossomness – to whom is given, much is expected – you stand the chance of being cursed when investigated for fruitfulness.

The fig tree was cursed because it blossomed without yielding fruit. When cursed, the curse was that nobody will eat fruit from it all its life, and it withered immediately.

Start yielding fruits now. No matter your status or position. Poor or rich, weak or strong, short or tall, thin or fat, stammerer or talkative, administrator or executioner, you have work to do in the vineyard of our Lord.

There is no one God cannot use –

• ·         Moses stuttered
• ·         David armor did not fit
• ·         John Mark deserted Paul
• ·         Timothy had ulcers
• ·         Hosea’s wife was a prostitute
• ·         Amos’ training was in the school fig tree pruning
• ·         Jacob was a liar
• ·         David had an affair
• ·         Solomon was too rich
• ·         Jesus was too poor
• ·         Abraham was too old
• ·         David was too young
• ·         Peter was afraid of death
• ·         Lazarus was dead
• ·         John was self righteous
• ·         Naomi was a widow
• ·         Paul was a persecutor of the church
• ·         Moses was a murderer
• ·         Jonah ran from God’s will
• ·         Miriam was a gossip
• ·         Gideon and Thomas both doubted
• ·         Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal
• ·         Elijah was burned out
• ·         John the Baptist was a loud mouth
• ·         Martha was a worrywart
• ·         Noah was drunk
• ·         Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse?
• ·         So did Peter, Paul, well lots of folks did

You are useful in the vineyard of Christ. So make yourself available and as you do it Christ will bless you and when you blossom, you’ll be able to do more, and more blessings will come your way. You will be like a tree planted by the river side (Ps 2)

Apart from preaching to others there are standard fruits expected of a good plant that can preach the word without you talking –

• ·         For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. - Eph 5:8-12
• ·         But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Gal 5:22-23

Let your life bear fruit that is pleasing to the Lord.

God helps you as you make up your mind to bear fruit in Him.

Olufemi Samuel Ogundele

His Words and You Ministries

www.hiswordsandyou.com

e-mail – olufemi@hiswordsandyou.com