Then he told this parable: ‘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 round it and fertilise it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”’Luke 13:6-9

 

We are all fruit trees planted in God’s garden. But we are useless if we do not fulfil the purposes of our Creator. God has a right to examine us, to investigate our fruit-bearing history. He has a right to expect us to be fruitful.

 

In this parable the landowner is taking stock of his vineyard to see how his trees are doing. After several years, it’s starting to become clear that the fig tree is never going to bear fruit, and so the owner demands it be cut down.

 

People can become like that fig tree too. We can become so caught up in our own lives that there is no fruit remaining to benefit others. We dry up like a dead old tree and all that remains are the ugly branches of criticism, cynicism, and pessimism.

 

What a scary thought that God’s own people can become like that. But the caretaker holds out hope: “I’ll dig around it and fertilize it,” he says. Jesus is not finished with the deadest of human beings.

 

I know that God isn’t finished with me. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, so life can return to a barren tree. Maybe you have given up on people – or on yourself. The caretaker says, “Give it another season.” Begin again and fertilize your relationships. Pray; offer someone a word of encouragement; nourish a friendship that has withered. God extends his mercy to us every day so that we can live for him.

 

Prayer: Lord, extend your mercy to us and renew us. Fill us with new life by your Holy Spirit. Amen.