The parable of the fig tree in the book of Luke 13:6-9 has an important lesson for us all to learn. Jesus uses this parable to teach us how important it is for us to be fruitful in our lives. The will of God for us is that we should be fruitful and multiply in every area of our lives.
Genesis 9:7 “As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.” When we are bearing fruits in whatever we are doing it is good before God, and means that we are fulfilling the word of God concerning us. Fruit trees require a lot of care and proper handling to continue producing good fruit year in and year out.
It’s rewarding to see a tree bending under the weight of apples, pears, oranges, or grapefruit. To go into your backyard and pick your own fruit you watched develop and ripen is both instructive and rewarding.
Here are some of the interesting things we can learn from the parable of the fig tree.
1). God wants you to be fruitful in every area of your life.
Our God is fruitful, He has made us in His own image and likeness and has commanded us to be fruitful just like He is, for this is His will and propose for us. When we are not producing fruits in our lives, it means that something has gone wrong, because this is not God’s plan for us.
Jesus said in John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither you, unless you abide in Me.” When we abide in Jesus through His Word, we will bear the expected fruits that are needed in our life according to the word of God.
In the same way when we plant different fruits and at the due season we expect those plants to produce fruits. It is also applicable to us. God is waiting for us to be fruitful and multiply in every area of our lives.
2). Make use of the opportunity He has given you.
In the parable of the fig tree, when the owner of the vineyard came but found no fruits on the fig tree, He was angry. But the keeper of His vineyard said give us one more year, let us dig around it and fertilize it, and if it bears fruit, well, but if not, after that you can cut it down.
From this verse, we understand that God does not judge us immediately, as we commit or do things that are not good before Him. He gives us the opportunity to repent and turn away from our evil way and work according to His precepts for our lives. This chance He gives us should not be misused but should be utilized to make our lives fruitful. We should examine ourselves today and correct whatever is withholding us from bearing fruits in our lives.
When we repent and ask God for forgiveness, He will forgive us and fill us with His Holy Spirit through His word and direct us to the things He wants us to do that will help us produce the expected result that we need in every area of our lives.
3) Unfruitfulness is not from God
When you are not fruitful in your life, know that this is not from God. Our God is not stagnant or unfruitful and we should not be unfruitful also in our lives. If we remain in Jesus, we will bear much fruit in our lives. We experience stagnation when we are not abiding in Jesus. This is because we can do nothing with our own strength and might, but through the living word of God that lives and abide in us.
Jesus will cut down any tree that is unfruitful, He expects us to always bear fruits in every area of our lives. Don’t be the tree that will bear no fruit, which will be cut down, when He comes, but let the word of God prevail in your life and bear that expected result. Meditate on His word and fill your heart with them and you cannot but produce fruit in your life today. Remember God loves you and He wants you to be fruitful and multiply in whatever you do. This is His plans and purpose for you.
