Have you ever noticed that the gospels often provide little snippets of three or four verses that make you raise an eyebrow, but then we often run on to other things that are more clearly illustrated?  I think the cursing of the fig tree in Matthew 21 and Mark 11 is one of those.  The narrative in both gospels tells us that early in the morning, as Jesus was walking from Bethany to Jerusalem, he was hungry. He saw a fig tree in the distance, but as he drew near, he noticed it had leaves but no fruit.  He then cursed the fig tree and it began to wither immediately. Mark tells us that when the disciples and Jesus passed that way again the next morning, they saw that the tree was totally dead.  The disciples pointed out the obvious and then Jesus told them that whatever they ask for in faith they will receive.  

If we just run past that, it would be easy to believe that Jesus cursed the fig tree as an example of faith, but I think there is more to the story.  It is the only example I know of where faith brought death rather than life and a withering instead of a healing.  It seems that the fig tree would have been a greater example of faith if Jesus had blessed it and, in the morning, it had been burgeoning with perfect fruit.

If you look at Mark’s narrative, you find that Jesus cursed the tree and then went on to the temple where he drove out those who were selling merchandise in the temple courts.  He did so while declaring that the temple should be a house of prayer rather than a den of thieves.  Both Matthew and Mark state that the fig tree had leaves but no fruit.  From a distance, it looked healthy, but with close inspection, it was bearing no fruit, which was its God-given purpose.  The temple and Israel’s religious leaders may have looked grand and godly from a distance, but on close inspection they were failing to fulfill their God-given purpose.  The whole nation of Israel was in that condition and soon felt the full brunt of the curse of the fig tree when Rome destroyed both the temple and Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

There are numerous examples in scripture in which trees that are not bearing fruit are eventually cut down and thrown into the fire (example: Matt. 3:10, 7:19).  Although, the initial application is probably the nation of Israel, I think we should also examine our own lives to see if we are bearing fruit for the kingdom.  I see many believers who once served actively and intentionally in the kingdom, but have long since quit doing so.  Some go to church from time to time, but don’t serve there.  They don’t share the gospel with those they encounter in their daily lives.  They don’t serve the poor or the oppressed in their communities.  They don’t labor in prayer for others.  They live a rather moral life and do the things that bless their own lives and their families, but not the lives of others in any direct way.  With any objective measure, they are no longer a force for the kingdom of God.  

One of Satan’s great strategies is busyness.  We give into the constant demands of the world – a standard of living that takes seventy hours a week to maintain, a social agenda for us and our children that is exhausting, and a life with no margins for intentional serving or quality time with the Lord. When we have to choose, we usually choose the demands of the world because God is not threatening us or pressuring us like the world does.  

We need to see the hand of Satan in all of this.  I’m always amazed at Jesus.  He could have easily let the demands of notoriety and building his ministry overwhelm him, but he never seemed to be in a hurry.  In fact, in his busiest moments, rather than working harder or putting in more hours, he often slipped away from the crowds and his ministry for time with the Father.  

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Our fruitfulness depends on our connection.  The greater our connection, the greater the fruit.  In the kingdom of God, fruit is a big deal.  Read through the gospels with an eye to fruitfulness and you will see how important it is – for a nation or a person.  

I need to be reminded that busyness is not the same as fruitfulness.  Pastors can get so busy with “the work of the church” that our time with the Father gets neglected.  When I labor without spending significant time with the father, I can bear little fruit that matters.  I thought you might need a reminder as well.  

Take an inventory.  See how you spend your time, your energy, and your money. See if you can clearly identify the ways in which you are intentionally bearing fruit in the kingdom.  If need be, reprioritize and take action to redirect some, if not all, of your life.  Then set times to take inventory of your priorities on a regular basis so that you don’t skip back into old habits.  Most importantly, be honest with yourself about what you are doing and why.  Blessings in Him.