A NONBEARING FRUIT TREE?
Traditionally, the New Year is a time of new beginnings. It is a time when we make a commitment to do better this year than we did on last year! Out with the old and in with the new.
But, it won’t be strange to us, that the same problems and perplexities that we will go to bed with to night, will be the same problems and perplexities that we will wake up with in the morning. We have done this year in and year out, for many years.
Wouldn’t it be great if this year could be the beginning of "Christian life" such as we have never known before?
God is bringing that proposition to the table today for all of us.
God has spared us another year! Somebody ought to get excited – God has spared you another year!!
And in this New Year, God wants a new you!! God wants you to develop a new pattern for living. Far too many of us know how to style and profile physically but not spiritually.
GOD HAS SPARED YOU ANOTHER YEAR.
Just like that one leaf that hangs on the tree in the winter time when all the others have fallen down – God has left you here another year for a divine purpose. God has given you more time.
The fact of the matter is simple: God has something for us to do. What we must do IS GET INTO WHAT GOD IS UP TO. God did not make us, create us -- so that we could OCCUPY UNTIL WE DIE.
God has something for you to do --- and if you don’t do it, if you don’t contribute it, if you don’t share it, then we all will miss out on it and not benefit from it.
But, GOD HAS SPARED YOU ANOTHER YEAR. My brothers and sisters, the fact that you and I are still here means that God is still working on all of us!
TEXT:
Luke 13:6-9
"He spoke also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit on it, and found none. Then he said unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he, answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it; And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."
Today, we find ourselves in a vineyard – this owner planted a tree and expected the tree to progress, to grow – He expected to find some fruit on the tree.
I. The owner of the tree made a REASONABLE REQUEST. It was his tree and he expected this fig tree to have done better than in previous years.
This man planted a fig tree. In Biblical times, fig trees were valuable. This man did not plant any type of tree – He planted a tree that was valuable.
Fig trees were a valuable class of trees.
The owner expects to find some fruit hanging on the fig tree.
God expects to find some fruit hanging on your tree!
One pastor said, “You can’t PINK SLIP GOD and then still expect a BONUS CHECK of His BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS.
God wants some fruit from you!
The owner expected some fruit to be on the tree– it was a REASONABLE REQUEST. However every time the Owner came to the tree with a REASONABLE REQUEST, the tree was unproductive and barren.
II. That simply meant that this tree had no fruit to offer.
The thing that strikes me the most is this tree had some advantages.
The first advantage was LOCATION; the tree was planted in a vineyard. Being in a vineyard meant that the tree was protected. The vineyard was enclosed, round about by a hedge or a fence, to keep the wild animals from ravaging the fruit on the trees.
And those of us who have given our life to Jesus Christ -- enjoy the protection of God.
I think of Job! Satan testified that God had made a hedge around him, and around his house and all that he had!
Aren’t you thankful for the hedge He has placed around you this morning?
This tree had the advantage of LOCATION.
The second advantage that this tree had was that it was PLANTED!
Purposely placed and positioned.
It was not a product of chance or coincidence! The tree had been planted in the vineyard!
And that it had been planted suggests that the planter had a purpose in mind for the tree. However every time the Owner came to the tree with a REASONABLE REQUEST, the owner kept receiving a REPORT.
The Bible says, the owner kept coming, looking to find fruit of faithfulness, fruit of giving, fruit of family harmony, fruit of fellowship, fruit of fasting and prayer –
For three years – that’s a total of 36 months, 156 weeks, 1095 days, 26, 280 hours, and 473,040 minutes.
And the owner found nothing.
III. REGRETFUL RECOMMENDATION
The owner says, "Cut it down! I’ve been coming, looking for fruit for the last three years and have found none! Cut it down!
I planted it, I protected it and I cared for it, yet it has produced no fruit; Cut it down!"
Now, I thought, when I read this text, that the owner had jumped the gun a little bit – until I saw a colon before the words – CUT IT DOWN.
And that colon means the owner has thought out his decision – and the owner says, CUT IT DOWN.
John 15:2
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
John 15:4-6
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Now cutting requires ATTENTION. And I don’t know about you but I’d much rather the Lord direct his attention on WATERING ME, and DEVELOPING ME – than directing all of his efforts on CUTTING ME DOWN.
Have I got a witness here?
Well, I am so glad that the VINEDRESSER said – SPARE IT ANOTHER YEAR.
God is not concerned about a NEW YEAR; God wants a NEW YOU.
So if we have been barren and unproductive, the reasonable response to the Lord is that of committing ourselves to fruit baring this year in ’07.
Get involved in the church, pray more than ever, give more, study God’s Word more than ever.
And the next time that the owner of the vineyard comes with His reasonable request for fruit (that could be any day now), with joy, you can give Him all that He desires.
What can I repay the Lord for all he has done for me?
He desires fruit.
Parts of this sermon may have been borrowed from sermons contributed to Sermon Central and adapted to fit the ministry to my congregation, thanks to you great pastors and preachers.
