Jesus told the following story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden, and he returned several times to see if it had produced any fruit, but he was always disappointed.

Finally, he said to the gardener, “I have been waiting for three years, and it has not produced a single fig. Cut it down; it is just taking up space in my garden.”

The gardener replied, “Sir, give it another chance. Let it remain for one more year, and I will give it special care and plenty of fertilizer. If it bears fruit next year, well and good. If not, then you can cut it down.”

God has planted us as fig trees in His garden and expects to harvest the fruit of His own. It would be a mistake to obsess over just growing and having the most beautiful green leaves in the orchard. How many prayers have we invested in growing and beautifying ourselves, neglecting the main purpose of a fig tree, which is to bear fruit and provide shade for others?

God is coming soon to harvest the fruits of a character surrendered to Jesus Christ, fruits of lives saved for His kingdom, fruits of fig trees that offer peaceful shade to disconsolate and weary men.

He offers you special care: He will have to prune the dry leaves and provide you with plenty of fertilizer in His Word and Spirit if you truly aspire to be a fruitful fig tree.