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.’ ”
Vicki and I were remarking the other day how we once had a television repairman who would come to the house and fix the TV whereas now, at the first sign of a problem, we throw it out. Replacement has become cheaper than repair. In this parable, the owner of the vineyard was the 21st century man while the vinedresser may have grown up during the depression and was loathe to throw anything away. In truth though, Jesus told the story of Israel and their lack of fruit. The vinedresser appealed to the mercy of the owner to spare the tree for one more year.
God did indeed spare Israel in his mercy but judgment did come. Praise God that he is merciful and gives us more time to prune and fertilize while he tarries! The time is short and at some point in the near or distant future, his time will come and those who reject Jesus will hear the cry, cut it down!
Dear Lord, thank you for your mercy and patience with us. May we bear fruit for the gospel so the many will not be cut down but lifted up. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church