I Don't Give a Flying Fig!
At first glance I find this passage odd. My gut reaction is wrong, but it's still my gut reaction. Why would Jesus expect a fig tree to have figs if it wasn't fig season? Why the extreme reaction of cursing and ultimately killing the tree? Was Jesus having a diabetic induced bad day? Had his blood sugar dropped so low that he throws a holy temper tantrum?
Not at all. There are a few things here to notice and a simple principle to be discovered.
First - it says the fig tree was covered in leaves. According to my research a fig tree commonly produces fruit before it produces leaves. So when you see a fig tree full of leaves you should expect it to be full of figs - in or out of season. this is what Jesus saw, a fig tree full of leaves, but fruitless none-the-less.
Second - Jesus was headed to celebrate the Passover. It would be his last. The city was filled with activity. The busyness of the religious festival would absorb the time, attention, activity and resources of every man, woman and child in Jerusalem for the next week. You might say the city was full of leaves.
Yet, in spite of all this religious activity, what would be the fruit of their traditions? A few dead lambs? A few sacrificed animals? An increase in the temple offerings? Jerusalem was a city full of leaves, yet completely missing the point of the Passover, the Day of Atonement. Ultimately they would miss the one bringing the atonement and, like the fig tree, this rejection would be the death of them.
So now the principle - there is a difference between busyness and fruitfulness. Busyness is activity that leads to death. Fruitfulness is activity that leads to life. Busyness is activity that looks good on the outside. Fruitfulness is activity that produces good for you and others. Busyness is deceptive, distracting and draining. It is a poor substitute for real life. Fruitfulness provides energy for the work ahead and brings life to others.
Another verse of Scripture reminds us to be ready in season and out of season. Thats not about busyness. That's about fruit. Today, don't let busyness deceive, distract or drain you. Examine yourself and see what kind of fruit, if any, is growing in your life.
Steps to Fruitfulness
1. Grounded in fertile soil - the Word of God and Prayer
2. Life in the Sun (son) - walk in the Spirit, let His Spirit define your decisions and decide your course of action.
3. Pruned by the Master Gardener - allow God to remove fruitless branches, think sin or superfluous activity.
Created about 1 year ago
