The Fig Tree

The Fig Tree and Faith: Producing Fruit in Your Christian Life

Are you producing fruit in your Christian life, or are you just full of leaves? Jesus had a powerful encounter with a fig tree that teaches us an important lesson about what God expects from His followers.

What Does the Fig Tree Teach Us About Our Christian Walk?

In Mark 11:12-14, we find Jesus hungry and approaching a fig tree that was in full leaf. Despite its lush appearance, the tree had no fruit. Even though it wasn't quite the season for figs, Jesus cursed the tree, saying "May no one ever eat your fruit again."

This might seem harsh at first glance, but there's a deeper meaning here. Fig trees in the Middle East have a unique characteristic - when they produce leaves in the springtime, they should also be producing figs. The figs actually start growing at the same time as the leaves, or even slightly before. So this tree was showing off with its leaves but failing to produce what it was supposed to.

The tree was essentially false advertising - displaying the appearance of fruitfulness without actually being fruitful.

Why Did Jesus Curse a Fruitless Tree?

This fig tree incident connects to a parable Jesus told in Luke 13:6-9 about a man who had a fig tree that produced no fruit for three years. The owner wanted to cut it down because it was wasting space, but the keeper asked for one more year to fertilize it and see if it would bear fruit.

Jesus had been in ministry for three years, preaching to everyone including the Pharisees. Yet many, especially the religious leaders, refused to produce fruit. After cursing the fig tree, Jesus went on to turn the temple upside down and then ultimately died for us.

The message is clear: God expects His followers to produce fruit. Being fruitless in God's kingdom is dangerous. Jesus called such a tree "a waste of space."

What's the Difference Between Leaves and Fruit in Our Spiritual Lives?

Leaves are important for a tree - they act as the tree's food source through photosynthesis. They take in sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose that gives the tree energy to live.

Similarly, spiritual "leaves" like prayer, Bible reading, and church attendance are important for our spiritual growth. These practices bring life and energy to us personally. But if that's all we have - if we're only concerned with our own spiritual nourishment - we're missing the point.

Fruit, on the other hand, contains seeds that can produce more trees, or it can be consumed to give life to others. Spiritual fruit isn't about us - it's about reproducing and feeding others.

Are You a Leafy Christian With No Fruit?

Many Christians are full of "green leaves" - they pray daily, read their Bible, attend church regularly - all good things! But if you're only doing these things for your own benefit without producing fruit, you might be what Jesus called "a waste of space in the kingdom of God."

This doesn't mean you're going to hell, but it does raise an important question: Did Jesus save us just so we as individuals don't go to hell? Or did He die on the cross so that His kingdom might be established on earth through us?

God gives us time to become fruitful. In the parable, the keeper asked for one more year to fertilize the tree. Sometimes the trials and pruning we experience are God's way of preparing us to produce fruit.

What Does Spiritual Fruit Look Like?

Galatians talks about the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. But we often think about these qualities selfishly.

The fruit of the Spirit isn't about you - it's fruit produced through you because you are walking in the Spirit and not in your flesh. It's for others:

• Love (agape) - giving without expecting anything in return

• Joy - not just so you can be happy, but so your joy might overflow into others' lives

• Peace - not the absence of problems, but peace in the midst of storms that affects those around you

• Patience - not for your benefit, but for loving others better

• Kindness - speaking truth in love, not just being "nice" and agreeable

Are You Eating Your Own Fruit?

Some Christians have been blessed by God but are using those blessings only for themselves. Jesus told a parable about a farmer who had an abundant harvest and decided to build bigger barns to store it all so he could live in luxury. That farmer was called evil.

God wants to prosper us, but not just for our own benefit. He blesses us so we can be a blessing to others. Everything we have belongs to Him and should be used as fruit for His kingdom.

If God has given you gifts and you're using them only to benefit yourself, you're eating your own fruit. Those gifts are meant to serve others and build God's kingdom.

What About Faith and Doubt?

When it comes to faith, many think they need more faith to see breakthroughs in their lives. But Jesus said faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. The problem isn't a lack of faith - it's the presence of doubt.

Mark 11:23-24 says, "Whatever you ask, believe and do not doubt and it will be done." Most of God's promises have stipulations attached to them. We need to believe without doubting, and we need to forgive others (Mark 11:25).

Life Application

This week, examine your Christian life. Are you producing fruit, or are you just full of leaves? Here are some questions to consider:

1. How have you been using the things God has given you? Are you using them only to benefit yourself, or to serve others and build His kingdom?

2. What spiritual fruit are you producing in your life? How are you using the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.) to benefit others?

3. Are there areas where you've been walking in your flesh rather than in the Spirit? Consider taking time to fast and pray this month - not just for yourself, but for breakthroughs in your church, your family, and others around you.

4. Who can you invite to church this week? Can you commit to inviting five people a week to experience God?

Remember, being a Christian means denying ourselves, picking up our cross, and following Jesus. God isn't mad at you if you've been eating all your fruit and living for yourself, but He does want more for you. He loves you and wants you to experience the joy of being fruitful in His kingdom.