In Luke 13:6-9 we read this parable of Jesus:
“….A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came and sought fruit and found none. Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, ‘Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find 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. If it bear fruit, well, and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down’.”
This man owned a vineyard with a fig tree in it. When the tree produced no fruit he determined to cut it down and be rid of it, judging it to be a lost cause. He probably thought it was taking up valuable space where more vines could be planted. A tree is made of wood, which is typical of humanity. Very often, our roots have gone down into wrong things, which prevent us bearing fruit for the kingdom of God. Thankfully, our divine Vine Dresser, Jesus Christ, does not cut us off as a lost cause. He works with us, He digs and dungs around the roots in our lives to disturb the roots that have been laying in comfort zones, roots that have made their way into ungodly habits. We do not like our roots disturbed. We certainly do not like dung, but in retrospect, we realise that fertiliser is necessary for growth and production of fine fruit. The dung can be the circumstances in our life that we judge as bad, but the Lord uses them to build the character and nature of His Son in us as we draw closer, trust and depend on Him. We need to view our present circumstances with spiritual eyes. We may view them as “dung”, but dung is a wonderful fertiliser and can be used as fuel for our revelation! Matthew 5:8, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God,”…..in some things? No!…in all things.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.”
The Master works all things according to His purpose, for His glory. He does not view ourselves, or others, as a lost cause. So many people do not know how to handle their failures. In God, they have the potential to be learning curves in our spiritual walk. Hebrews 7:25 Speaking of the unchangeable priesthood of Christ, declares, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.” What a Saviour! Let us not despise, but yield, to the divine Vine Dresser, disturbing, digging and dunging our roots. Dung has purpose! As we yield our negatives to His skillful hand, everything now is positive in outlook. The potential is there to be fruitful to the glory of God as we allow Him to work in our lives. His purpose is to redirect our roots into good soil, to produce beautiful fruit…..vessels for His glory!
