The fruitless fig tree

The fruitless fig tree

Scripture:

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:18-22

Observation:

“May you never bear fruit again!” the Lord had said to the fig tree. And to the disciples’ great surprise, it immediately withered, never to bear fruit again. The Lord had been hungry and had gone to the tree hoping to find fruit, but there was none. In Proverbs, it is written how the tongue has the power of life and death, and even proclamation to living things such as a tree has great effect indeed. This calls us to bring to our attention the words that we use regarding ourselves and regarding our family members. Do we speak blessings or curses to them? Do we speak blessings or curses on ourselves? Carelessly, many people use flippant remarks like “I’m dead” or “that will be the death of me”. They do not realize the power of their words over their own lives. Rather than use such careless words, speak blessing, life, health, healing in Jesus name to our own bodies, to our loved ones, even the plants in our garden, or our pets.

Regarding the fruitlessness of the fig tree, there is also an inherent warning to us. Are we bearing fruit for the Lord? John the Baptist warned that the axe is at the tree and every unfruitful tree will be cut off! He was not talking concerning physical trees but human beings and the fruit or lack thereof that they produced for God. How do we know whether we are bearing fruit? Basically, we should ask ourselves if we are a blessing to those around us or not? A fruitful tree gives life and blessing to those that come across it.

Seeing his disciples’ amazement, the Lord takes the opportunity to remind them of the importance of faith. “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea, and it will be done.” From the withering of the fig tree, the Lord now gives His disciples the picture of a mountain being thrown into the sea at His command.” The mountain is basically the largest physical thing we can imagine, and even that is nothing to a person of faith. How do we get this faith? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God! It is in inculcating that close personal walk with God that our faith grows and His Word comes alive to us.

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. What is to believe? It is to believe that God is for us, that He hears us, even that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How do we strengthen that belief in God. Again, it comes from that personal relationship inculcated preciously with the Lord! If we are close to the Lord and we pray as Jesus taught us, we find that our will is moulded to seek His will, and our desires and emotions are brought in sync with that of the Lord’s. Again, we are reminded of the all-importance of prayer, the seedbed from which are faith really grows.

Application:-

Remember to be conscious of the words we speak, whether they are blessing or cursing ourselves, our loved ones, and those around us. Remember that the tongue has the power of life and death.

Meditate on ourselves using the picture of a fruit tree. Are we bearing much fruit for the Lord, or are we fruitless like the barren fig tree? Pray to the Lord that He might make us fruitful even as we yield our hearts and hands to Him.

Resolve to spend more time in prayer and listening for God’s voice in quietness. Therein is the place where our faith will grow stronger and we will learn to truly believe. Then only will we begin to see ourselves saying prayers that move mountains and bring momentous change in the lives of others.

Prayer:-

We thank You, Father God, for the power of Your Word that You have given us. We thank You Lord that You are trustworthy and righteous and watch over Your Word to make sure it comes to pass. Let our trust be founded strong and secure on Your Word O Lord, and let us too choose to speak words of life and strength and blessing in our daily lives.

We pray O Lord that You bless our hands with fruitfulness. Let the work that we do in You prosper and be blessed 30 times, 60 times, a 100 times. Forgive our sins, but let us enter times of refreshing in You, we pray.

Forgive us for the times we have neglected to fellowship with You, even in the quietness of our hearts. Draw us to You, O Lord. Reveal more of Yourself to us day by day, hour by hour. Let our faith grow and expand and strengthen even as we trust in You, O Lord. May Your name be blessed forever O Lord. In Jesus name, 

Amen.