At one time, Jesus was hungry and came across a fig tree. It was fully grown and flourishing, with healthy green leaves. As a result it was expected to have produced some fruit to meet Jesus’ need. But he found none on it. In response, he took one look at the tree and declared, ‘no one ever again shall eat fruit from you’ (Mark 11:14). Have you ever wondered why Jesus cursed that tree? Why did he not simply walk away to find the next available source of food? Let us consider another example.
There was a rich man whose lands had produced bountiful harvests. Suddenly, he had more abundance than he had ever anticipated. So he decided to store up all the wealth and use it solely for his own enjoyment. He thought he was being prudent by storing up, but God said to him, ‘you fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.’ (Luke 12:13-21)
Can you see the similarities between the fig tree and the rich man? Both were blessed with the resources to meet the needs of people in their environment. Both withheld their resources from meeting such needs – the fig tree its fruits, the rich man his harvests. Both ended up cursed; that is, because of their refusal to rightly use the resources given to them by God, their ability to operate at that level of productivity was taken away.
What have you been blessed with? Time, wisdom, patience, money, kindness, expert knowledge, influence…? Prayerfully take a look around you. There is someone in your life – for a moment, a season, or a lifetime – that is crying out for your fruit. God is counting on you to meet that need.
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT