NOURISHED BUT FRUITLESS – NOT YOUR LOT

You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth FRUIT, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give you – John 15:16

On one occasion Jesus Christ had cursed a fig tree for being fruitless (Mk.11:14). Here again, He gave the parable of a well-nurtured, but unproductive fig tree. Though thoroughly tendered, it had no fruit to show for the time and effort expended by its owner. The reaction of the owner is worth pondering on: “The he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come SEEKING FRUIT on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ (Lk.13:7). The owner expected to pluck pleasant fruits based on his efforts in causing the tree to bear fruits. Sadly, it disappointed his expectations. He concluded that it pays to have the tree cut down than continue to occupy space that could be better used.

1 Corinthians 3:9 describes anyone who has come to God through His Son Jesus as God’s husbandry – His field. God is the husbandman. You are a living tree being nurtured from new birth, when you gave your life to Christ. The Saviour of your soul has been pouring physical and spiritual nourishment upon you from the times of your birth and new birth to date. You are alive – physically and spiritually – by His Grace. It’s time for self-examination: Am I nourished, yet fruitless? Does my degree of fruitfulness measure up to God’s grace of nourishment in my life?

The husbandman’s pronouncement was clear and critical: “cut it down.” This was not His original desire, but He had waited for three years, hoping that the tree will yield fruit, all to no avail. Thank God for “mercy” that spoke through the keeper of the vineyard: “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down’ (Lk.13:8-9). God of another chance! The Saviour is calling those who have delayed knowing Him: “Bring forth fruits meet for repentance: And now also, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth GOOD FRUIT is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matt.3:8-10).

For us who by grace are children of God, the Lord Jesus is calling us to unalloyed loyalty and total commitment to Him: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me” (Jh.15:4). Surrender yourself completely to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. May you never be cut down or thrown into the fire. May you never be denied the sure blessings of those who bear good fruits! Nourished, but fruitless; that shall not be your portion, in Jesus name!