The Tree and its Fruits

In Matthew 3 - John warns about the day of Judgement. He warns for those who sin and not repent, Who does not produce good fruit.

10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

2 Chronicles 7:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

We know that idleness and laziness is hatred for God. In the parable of the Rich fool, Jesus says that we ought to be active and working towards the God's will all the time and never give up thinking we have already attained.

Luke 12:13-21

New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

The things that we need to possess:

2 Peter 1:8 NIV

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The qualities that we need to posses are:

-> His Divine power that has given us everything we need for a godly life through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

-> Precious promises

-> To escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

-> Faith Goodness > To Knowledge > To Self-control > To perseverance > Godliness > Mutual affection > Love

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

There is an expectation for our life, each of us are gifted in one or the other way. The expectation is that we use our gifts for his glory, to do according to his will, to seek his kingdom.

Anthony DeMello saw a starving child shivering in the cold. Angrily he lifted his eyes to heaven and said, "God, how could you allow such suffering? Why don't you do something?"

There was a long silence and then DeMello was startled when he heard the voice of God answer him, "I certainly have done something - I made you."

Luke 13:6-9

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Matthew 21:18-22

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

18 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.
20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” 21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. 22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

The account of Jesus cursing the Fig Tree teaches us that, All the expectations from our life through the gifts has to be satisfied within the specified time. No one can escape the trail and temptations, persecutions and finally the Judgement, but if we are faithful in our life, doing what is required to fulfill his divine purpose with our gifts we will be rewarded.

2 Peter 3:17-18

New International Version (NIV)

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

HAVE A GREAT AND BLESSED DAY AHEAD