Written by Efe Abbe
The Word
6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
-Luke 13:6-9 ESV
Reflection
When I decided to build a flower garden, I went all in and built the first bed myself. I dug up the very clayey (hard) soil, placed down nutrient rich garden soil, got the young plants in, and built the retaining wall. I weeded, watered, pruned, and fertilized just the right amount so that blooms would show up when they were supposed to. My neighbors know that I enjoy and take pride in my garden, because they see me out there so much.
Now imagine, if after all that toil and work, I had a particular plant that just wouldn’t produce any blooms. Good gardeners check everything: the soil, water, pests, sunlight/shade, etc., and keep tending in hopes that the underachieving plant turns around. After a while, when it becomes very apparent that said plant is simply taking up space, it’s time for it to go.
In this parable Jesus used gardening to illustrate that God expects a return of repentance on His investment of patience and grace in our lives. Savvy investors invest for the long run but know to cut their losses when an investment isn’t profitable. Jesus is saying that while God is the most patient Being to exist, His patience towards sinful humans to repent does not go on indefinitely, because He is also the most just Being to exist.
Application
Notice that in this parable, the Gardner (vinedresser) does all the work. God knows well that in our sin, humanity is dead so He is the one who makes us alive in His Son, Jesus (Ephesians 2:1 ASV). Just as with our salvation, the times, places, circumstances, and relationships of our lives are all God-directed so we might find Him:
26 “…and He [God] made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might feel around for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…”
Acts 17:26-27 NASB
Every moment God gives us before we repent, is proof of His patience, not wanting any of us to perish (2 Peter 3:8-10); but we all get to choose to either ignore Him and continue in sin or humbly repent and turn to Him – either way God won’t wait forever.
30 “So having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now proclaiming to mankind that all people everywhere are to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man [Jesus] whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all people by raising Him from the dead.”
Acts 17:30-31 ASV
Prayer
Thank You heavenly Father, for Your patience that leads me to repentance and Your justice. Please, remove any resistance to repentance from me. Please help me trust Jesus, Your Son and righteous Judge to save me and empower me to have a relationship with You, amen.
City Life Starter 
Leave a Reply