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How to Face Your Own Fruitlessness: The Barren Fig Tree

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How to Face Your Own Fruitlessness: The Barren Fig Tree

Would Jesus eat Fig Newtons?

The Son of God sure couldn’t resist mentioning fig trees during His life and ministry.

Perhaps because they trace back to garden. Adam and the woman stitched figgy leaves to make DIY, pre-Etsy loincloths. This makes fig trees the only tree specifically mentioned in the garden of Eden.

Figs line the pages of Scripture. It appears as a representative of the blessings of the Promised Land (Deut: 8:7-8). Fig trees, whose dense foliage and broad leaves can measure as much as eight meters in diameter, are mentioned more than four dozen times in the Scripture.

The trees were known for their gentle shade and their fruit as delicacies and desirable gifts exchanged to win favor.

In fact, after the grape, the fig is the most valued fruit in the Bible.

So perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus drew on the fig tree to unwrap a shocking spiritual truth in Luke 13:6-9.

Jesus tells the story of a man who plants a fig tree in his vineyard. For three years, he visits the tree in anticipation of confectionary treats.

In frustration, he instructs the vineyard manager to chainsaw the fig tree at its base. The vineyard manager begs for mercy:

“Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine, but if not cut it down.”—Luke 13:8-9

This parable raises a few questions: 

Why was the man so mad?

The Torah taught that any tree planted could not be harvested for the three years. During that time, the fruit was left on the tree. On the fourth year, the fruit was harvested, consecrated, and brought to Jerusalem (Leviticus 19:23-25). The man had been waiting at least four years for the tree to produce fruit and possibly much longer.

Where we just see a barren tree, the man saw time, money, energy, sweat, and precious resources. He longed for the fruit of his longsuffering labor.

What prevented the fig tree from producing fruit?

The tree may have needed additional nutrients or water as suggested by the farmer. But perhaps there was shortage of wasps. A fig tree cannot be pollinated and produce fruit apart from wasps.[i] Perhaps like modern times, there was a wasp shortage, just as we are experiencing a bee shortage today.

Regardless of the details surrounding wasps and bees, we must remember that Jesus was using these common images in the agrarian world to highlight deeper truths about God.

God is for us. He planted us. He has a purpose for us. He longs to bring us sweet, tangy fruitfulness.

God’s patience is mind bending.

Even when we are ready to give up, give in, throw in the towel, chop down the tree, God remains longsuffering.

If you find yourself in a season of fruitlessness, will you stop today and ask God:

What changes do I need to make to experience fruitfulness again?

What must be pruned in my life?

Who do I need to surround myself to be pollinated?

What must I do to produce the fruit of repentance that comes with following Jesus?

This summer, we’re diving into the agrarian themes of the Scripture to pause and take a look at our own souls. In the six-week online summer Bible study, Scouting the Divine, we’re spending time with shepherds, farmers, beekeepers, and vintners to better understand hidden truths and timeless treasures.

The best part: the Bible study is designed to be enjoyed by entire families—kids and grandkids included. This is an opportunity to taste and touch, see and savor the goodness of God together. You won’t want to miss it.

I promise that if you participate in the Scouting the Divine summer Bible study you won’t read the Scripture the same way again.

To join the Summer Bible Study, pick up the Scouting the Divine Bible Study DVD Kit from MargaretFeinbergStore.com ($74.95). Each kit includes:

  • One copy of Scouting the Divine in hardback (regularly $16.99)
  • One copy of Scouting the Divine participant’s guide member workbook(regularly $9.95)
  • One set of Scouting the Divine DVD + interactive CD (regularly $59.99)

As an added bonus, we are offering a 20% discount off our summer study when you enter coupon code: ScoutingSummer upon check out at MargaretFeinbergStore.com—that’s a savings of $14.99!

Pick up your Scouting the Divine DVD Kit today and begin asking God to prepare your heart for what’s in store this summer. The study launches June 15th at MargaretFeinberg.com.

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Are you in a season of fruitlessness? What changes do you need to begin to make?

[i] John W. Klotz, “The vine, the fig tree, and the olive : a study in biblical symbolism.” Concordia Journal 6, no. 6 (November 1, 1980): 256-260. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed May 19, 2015).

*Original Photo Source

 

55 Comments

  1. Andrew
    Andrew on June 8, 2015 at 7:12 am

    I like how the manager begs for a second chance for the tree. This how I see Jesus: imparting us another opportunity to bear fruit. Thank God for second chances!

  2. Melissa
    Melissa on June 8, 2015 at 8:44 am

    Another great post today, Margaret. Thank you for this reminder that I need to ask God for help. God will show me what needs to be pruned in my life. 🙂

  3. Janet from FL
    Janet from FL on June 10, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    Love this! I really need to pray & meditate on those questions to ask God about my fruitlessness. I had a plan for this year, but traveling and grandchildren are taking over my life right now, not a bad thing, but I do need some sustenance and some focus. Thanks Margaret for the right questions to get me back on track!
    Love, Janet

  4. Margaret
    Margaret on June 23, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    AMEN!

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