Are you truly fruitful?
‘On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.’
Mark 11: 12–14
The excerpt recounts Jesus’ account with the unfruitful fig tree. A question that arises is why Jesus cursed this tree despite it being out of season. Certain characteristics of the fig tree help us answer the question:
- The fruit grows before the leaves
- The fruits are green (until they ripen and turn purple) and blend well with the leaves
- Rare species of this tree bare fruit out of season
Hence, the final test of a fruitful fig tree wasn’t the time of the year but whether its foliage was in full bloom.
Given this leafy tree standing afar off, Jesus and his disciples expected to find some fruit.
Through the past few months we learned a lot about fruitfulness but as the year winds down let us examine ourselves for banal displays of fruitfulness. The simple reason for the curse was hypocrisy. This tree had an outward appearance of fruitfulness while bearing none.
Here’s a few situations I’ve found myself leafy while bearing little fruit:
- Reading to maintain a streak on the bible app instead of a genuine interest in intense study
- Seeming conscientious, meanwhile privately procrastinating important tasks
As a matter of urgency, let us inspect our unique situations with all honesty and ask the Holy Spirit to help us be not akin to the Pharisees who were like whitewashed tombs on the outside, which appear beautiful, but within are full of dead bones and filth.
May the good Lord help us to bear real fruits.
