Jesus spoke a parable against the Jewish nation of his day:

“He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto 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: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:6-9 KJV)

Like the owner of the fig tree, God had planted and cared for Israel as a nation. He had every right to expect good fruit. But, like the fig tree, Israel had not produced fruit for the Owner in spite of the Owner’s longsuffering. She, like the fig tree, was being given a last chance by the calls for them to “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” spoken by John and Jesus. If they did not repent now they would be cut down. They rejected the preaching by not only failing to repent, they reject and crucified the Christ. They were cut down as a nation with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

There is a question raised in the midst of this parable that merits our consideration. By not bearing fruit, the tree was just cumbering the ground or taking up space. We can learn some valuable lessons from this question.

God gives us opportunity to produce. This fig tree was blessed by its owner. It enjoyed life in the vineyard with the owner and vine dresser supplying it with soil, fertilizer, and care need to bear fruit.

The tree disappointed its owner by ignoring its responsibility to bear fruit. Instead it was counter productive by cumbering the ground, taking up space and using up plant food and moisture. It was really a burden to the rest of the vineyard by taking and not giving. It was not condemned for producing less than any of the other trees, but it did not produce what it could. The parables of the talents and the sower teach that each is expected to produce according to his ability.

This tree is so typical of too many professed Christians today. All they are doing is using up the ground. I fear Jesus would say to them, “Why cumbereth (ye) the ground?” They accept the gift of life (“he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” – Acts 17:25) without its responsibilities. They accept benefits of citizenship in this great country without the responsibilities of citizenship. On the responsibilities to civil governments, Paul says, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Rom. 13:7). They accept the benefits of the home without the responsibilities of husbands, wives, parents and children. They accept benefits of salvation in Christ and His church without accepting the responsibilities that go with that salvation: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12 KJV).

God Gives Us Opportunity to Repent. After three years the vineyard owner wanted to cut the tree down. But after the plea of the vine dresser he gave the tree another opportunity. God has given us all another opportunity through the intercession of Jesus on our behalf. All sin (Romans 3:10, 23), even those who are Christians (1 John 1:8,10). So, we all need opportunity to repent. The reason given for the delay in the second coming of Jesus is that God “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9). While the window of opportunity is still open to us we need to get right with God.

God Limits Our Opportunity to Produce and Repent. The parable of the fig tree shows that if the tree did not produce after its second opportunity it was coming down. History shows that Israel, represented by the tree, came down.

God’s longsuffering in Noah’s day came to an end with the flood. In Revelation, the Lord’s patience with “that woman Jezebel” was about to come to an end. He had given her space to repent (longsuffering), but she had not taken advantage of that space now the Lord was about to execute punishment. (Rev. 2:20-23).

God’s longsuffering toward us is limited. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:31 KJV) After explaining why God is not slack concerning his promise to come again, Peter adds, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 KJV)

We all need to ask ourselves, “Are we producing, or merely cumbering the ground?” If we are just cumbering the ground, the church would be better off without us. We are sapping strength from the vineyard without giving anything back to the Lord. We should either repent or get out. The desired and best option is to repent and become productive by serving the Lord daily.

How long do you think the Lord will put up with our cumbering the ground?