Bible Passage: Luke 16:1-13

Little Things Matter

“He who [is] faithful in [what is] least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in [what is] least is unjust also in much.” (Lk 16:10)

When I was younger, my father used to scold me for being ignorant to details. For example, after wiping a wet surface with a cloth, I would wring it just a bit and put it at the edge of our kitchen sink. But Dad pointed out to me that I should wring it as dry as possible and hang it up so that the cloth could dry properly. In this way, the cloth wouldn’t rot and would be dry by the time the next person would use it. Little things matter indeed, isn’t it?

Yet we often tend to forget or comfortably ignore small matters, both in our interaction with others and with God. We think that it doesn’t really matter as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. Sometimes we may tell a little white lie just to avoid having to accept that colleague’s dinner invitation. Every now and then, we just have to gossip a bit about brother A and sister B. Maybe we decide to skip a Sabbath service in order to run some errands that we didn’t have time to do during the week, or to go to a special event that’s only held once a year. Deep inside, we probably know that God is unhappy with our actions, but we tell ourselves that God surely won’t be that stingy as long as we don’t commit a great sin; after all He understands and forgives our little weaknesses. But is that really the case?

If God didn’t care about small matters, why would He stop Moses and Aaron from entering Canaan just because they struck the rock at Kadesh, instead of speaking to it (Num 20:1-12)? Why would He reward us even for sharing a cup of cold water with the least of our brethren?

God Himself is faithful (Deut 7:9; Hos 11:12; 1 Cor 1:9), Christ was faithful (Hebr 3:1-2), and He wants His children to be faithful too (Rev 2:10). 

When we take a closer look into the Scriptures, we discover that faithfulness entails being minute in carrying out God’s commandments—a reflection of His will.
In fact, if we are faithful to God in the least, we show our trust in His words and a high regard towards God. So Dad was right indeed: little things matter—even to God.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well [done], good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
(Mt 25:21)

圣经章节: 马太福音 25:1-13

我们预备好了吗？

为了我们的孩子要进入小学一年级？ 没错！在两年前，当他还在幼儿园时，我们就搬到了好学校附近，妈妈就当上了学校志工人员来提升进入这学校的机会。

我们预备好了吗？

为了SAT或GMAT考试？ 没错！ 我们看了许多参考材料，完成大量的作业来准备应付当天的考试，希望可得好成绩，并进入一个好的大学或研究所。

我们预备好了吗？

为了老板所委托我们的重大任务吗？ 没错！ 我们已经做足了功课，并花许多阅读的时间，因为我们知道，在这个项目上的表现将会被评且决定晋升的机会。

我们预备好了吗？

为了要迎接那在永恒天家的新郎？

哼？ 但当？

今天？ 你的意思是说，祂今天会来？ 如此迅速？

看起来我必需预备好，我希望能到天国去！

今天的阅读教导我们要有预备和没有预备的后果。 五个聪明的童女，有预备油在器皿里，而愚拙的没有。 在第1节已经提到，10个童女都有目的的 – 就是要去迎接新郎。她们知道，新郎要来接她们，并且也知道，油是一个重要的因素，因为需要提供灯的火焰来照亮整个旅程，但另5个童女在同时等待新郎的到来时，即使她们有足够的时间去预备好灯的油，但却没有。 她们等到最后一分钟才去添购一些油，因此当新郎来临时，她们都错过了。 最后，她们都被拒绝进入这筵席。

从圣经中，我们读到很多例子有关神或人所预备的东西。 神试图摧毁这邪恶的世界，祂通过诺亚预备一个巨大的方舟来拯救一些义人和动物。 神预备摩西80年，为祂带领百姓离开旷野进入那应许之地 – 40年在宫里获取知识和智慧，另40年在旷野中获得力量和勇气。 神教导我们要做好预备和训练我们的孩子‘他应当走的路，当他衰老时，都不会偏离’。 神为亚当预备了夏娃，取出他的肋骨造成，所以亚当爱夏娃，夏娃会是亚当的一个好帮手。 有一个浪子悔改，并流浪回家时，父亲为他预备了一场盛宴迎接他。 聪明的人把他的房子建在磐石上，为雨天来临做好预备。神已经为我们每一个人预备好在天上的住处 (约翰福音 14:2-3).。

我们已预备好与我们的朋友和同事们分享神的救恩？(耶利米书 1:17; 以西结书 2:6)

我们已预备好去做工来提供我们的家庭吗？(箴言 24:27; 箴言 30:25)

我们已为信仰的攻击和埋伏做好预备吗？(彼得前书 5:8-9)

我们已预备好去办理我们生活上的事都依据主人的意思吗？(路加福音 12:47)

我们已经预备好我们的心去寻求神和事奉祂吗？(历代志下 12:14; 撒母耳记上 7:3) 我们读到在历代志下 12:13-14 罗波安王自强和统治，但他缺乏力量。他所行的都是恶，因为他没有立定心意寻求神。

在圣经中还有许多其他的例子，教导我们在信仰生活里需做好预备的好处。 你能辨别出来吗？ 阿摩司先知给了我们这个预备的警惕 ：

 “以色列啊，你当预备迎见你的神。”  阿摩司书 4:12

我们的新郎等待着我们。我们预备好了吗？

I think humility is the direct opposite of pride, and that is the main reason why it is so difficult to be truly humble for all of us.

But having said that, I believe we can all learn from the teachings of our Lord, and to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can nurture to become humble in the eyes of God.

Bible Passage: Luke 14: 7 – 11

It seems that during the times of Jesus, the Jews had the custom of categorizing the wedding feast seats for people of different status.

Over here, Jesus warns the people not to immediately take up the most honored seats unless being invited to do so. And this parable reminds me of a proverb,

Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of the great;

For it is better that he say to you,

“Come up here,”

Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

Proverbs 25: 6 – 7

Indeed, “Self-promotion” can be very shameful if we are not aware, or even deny that someone greater and more respected is around.

Nobody wants to be last, and especially in a competitive society, not only Singapore, we can find people who have cultivated the “Kiasu” (afraid to lose out to others) attitude.

This is due to the strong pride in all human beings, manifesting itself whenever possible.

Being humble is not to look down upon oneself, or to deem oneself as inferior to others in many aspects; but humility is to direct our attention away from focusing only on ourselves, or in other words is to curb us from being self-centered.

True humility frees us to be ourselves and to avoid being taken over by our pride.  A humble person does not have to wear a mask in order to look good to others who do not know who he really is, and he is not swayed by the perishable things such as fame, reputation, success, or failure.

True humility is never easy to come by, but as long as we abide by the Word of God sincerely, and to love our God with all our hearts, with all our minds, and with all our strength, we shall be free from the bondage of our pride.

Let us understand that it is useless and worthless to self-promote, but if we are able to humble ourselves, our God will surely exalt us; and that is truly precious to us.

Shalom

我认为谦卑是骄傲的相对，而这就是为什么谦卑对我们每一个人来说是如此的困难。

但话说回来，我相信我们都能从主耶稣的教导里学习，并依靠着圣灵的力量，在神的眼前谦卑自己。

经文：路加福音14：7  -  11

看来，在耶稣的时代，犹太人会为不同身份的人安排不同等级的婚宴席位。

在这里，耶稣警告人们不要立刻坐上最尊贵的席位，除非是被邀请的。这个比喻让我想起了一段箴言，

不要在王面前妄自尊大；

不要在大人的位上站立。

寧可有人說：請你上來，

強如在你覲見的王子面前叫你退下。

人看到你的眼睛。

-箴言25：6  -  7

事实上，如果我们不自觉，“自我推崇”，或是没有意识到在我们身旁有更重要或更值得推崇人的行为，是可以让我们蒙羞的。

没有人想成为最后一名，尤其是在竞争激烈的社会，不只在新加坡，我们可以发现人们已经养成了“怕输”(害怕输给别人)的态度。

这是因为存在于所有人类的自尊心理，想要尽可能得表现自我。

谦卑并非轻看自己，或认为自己在许多方面不如别人; 谦卑是将我们的注意力转换方向，而不再只是看重自己，换句话说，谦卑是我们对自我为中心的抑制。

真正的谦卑能释放我们，使我们不被自我的骄傲所胜过。一个谦卑的人不需要戴上面具，只为了在不认识他的人面前看起来体面，更不会为了会朽坏的东西，如名望，声誉，成功或失败所左右。

真正的谦卑是不容易的，但只要我们真诚地遵守神的话语，并且尽心、尽意、尽力去爱主我们的神，我们就能脱离骄傲的捆绑。

让我们明白，自我推崇是毫无价值与意义的，但如果我们能够谦卑自己，我们的神一定会尊崇我们，而这才是最珍贵的。

Bible Passage: Matthew 25:1-13

Are we prepared?

For our child to enter Primary 1? Yes! We moved 2 years ago when he was still in kindergarten so that we could be nearer that good school, and mummy volunteered at the school to increase our boy’s chances of entering the school.

Are we prepared?

For that SAT or GMAT exam? Yes! We looked up many reference materials and completed numerous workbooks in preparation for examination day, so we can do well and get into a good college or graduate school.

Are we prepared?

For a major project our boss is entrusting us? Yes! We have done our homework and put in many hours of reading because we know our performance on this project will be appraised and is critical in determining our chances of promotion.

Are we prepared?

To meet our Bridegroom in our eternal home in heaven?

Huh? But when?

Today? You mean He is coming today? So quickly?

Looks like I have to get prepared then, I do want to go to heaven!

Today’s reading teaches us about being prepared and the consequences of not being prepared. The 5 wise virgins had oil in their lamps, while the 5 foolish ones did not. Verse 1 already mentions that the 10 virgins had a purpose – that was to meet the bridegroom. They knew the Groom was coming to fetch them, and they knew that oil was a crucial element needed to feed the flame in their lamps to provide light during the journey, yet 5 of the 10 virgins did not prepare their lamps with oil even though they had time to do it whilst waiting for the Groom to arrive. They waited until the last minute to buy some oil and they missed the Groom when He came. Finally, they were denied entry to the wedding.

From the Bible, we read of many examples in which God or people prepared for things. God prepared a huge ark through Noah to save the righteous people and the animals even as He sought to destroy the wicked. God prepared Moses for 80 years for his role to lead the people out of the wilderness into the Promised Land – 40 years in the palace gaining knowledge and wisdom and 40 years in the wilderness gaining strength and courage. God instructs us to prepare and train our child ‘in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it’, God prepared Eve for Adam and fashioned her from his bone so Adam would love Eve and Eve would be a good helper to Adam. The father of the prodigal son had a feast prepared for him when he repented and returned home from his wanderings. The wise man built his house on the rock, preparing himself for a rainy day. God has prepared a place for each of us in heaven (John 14:2-3).

Are we prepared to share God’s salvation with our friends and colleagues? (Jer 1:17; Ezek 2:6)

Are we prepared to work and provide for our own households? (Prov 24:27; Prov 30:25)

Are we prepared for attacks and ambushes to our faith? (1 Pet 5:8-9)

Are we prepared to lead our lives doing the things in our Master’s will? (Luke 12:47)

Have we prepared our hearts to seek God and serve Him only? (2 Chron 12:14; 1 Sam 7:3) We read in 2 Chron 12:13-14 that King Rehoboam strengthened himself and reigned, yet his strength was misplaced. His deeds were evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.

There are many other examples in the Bible of the benefits of being prepared in our lives of faith. Can you identify them? Prophet Amos leaves us with this warning on preparedness:

“Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!”

~ Amos 4:12

Our Groom awaits us. Are we prepared?

Bible Passage: Luke 12:32-48; Matt 24:43-51

What is our level of preparedness?

Today’s passage reminds me of a children’s hymn, “The Wise Man Built His House”.

I believe we are all familiar with the parables of the ten virgins, of the wise man who built his house on the rock, and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.

Do we learn from these teachings?

The parable of the good servant and evil servant emphasizes on the need to remain watchful for Jesus’ second coming.

A master appoints his servant as a ruler over his household. Note how much faith the master has for his servant that he entrusts his entire household over to him.

This reminds me of Joseph, who was faithful in all things that Potiphar, his master entrusted him with all matters of the household.

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much…”

Luke 16:10

The servant is evil if he tramples on his master’s trust, thinking the master would take ages to return. He “begins to beat the male and female servants, and to “eat and drink and be drunk”.

Note the consequences that the evil servant has to bear:

1)      Cut into two

2)      Appoint him his portion with the unbelievers

3)      Beaten with many stripes

Similarly for us today, have we forgotten that Jesus will come soon? Does our fear of his second coming gradually reduce each day?

Are we entangled in our worldly affairs that we give in to our sinful and fleshly ways, thinking there is still time to indulge in our carnal desires?

If we continue to be part of this world, when Jesus comes again, it would be too late.

If He arrives to see how we give in to our evil desires and blatant lack of fear and reverence for Him, He will not hesitate to punish us.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven..”

Matthew 7:21

The path to heaven is narrow, because there are many obstacles along the way to trip us up, deceive and lead us away from the right path.

Some of us ask ourselves, “What if it were today? What if Jesus takes away my life tonight?”

Are we prepared to face Him and give an account of what we should or should not have done? Will God be pleased with our level of prepareness?

While we still can, we need to store up our riches in heaven, remain watchful and vigilant, looking forward to his return, because that is very soon.

May God have mercy on our weaknesses.

Bible Passage: Luke 12:16-21

In today’s parable regarding riches, we read about a rich fool who stored up for himself treasures on earth, thinking that he can eat, drink, and be merry henceforth; but God called him a fool because God is going to take his soul away that very night.

Are we such fools?

If God is going to take us away this very night, are we prepared? Or was much of our life’s pursuit on material possessions and wealth that we have not been laying treasures in heaven instead?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matthew 6:19-20)

It is human nature to want to acquire more and save more so that we may feel secure. I am beginning to realise that it may be even more so for brothers because of a certain sense of responsibility towards their family. It may not be that they do not have the necessary faith in God, but that they feel compelled to provide more and better for their loved ones.

I think that it is perfectly fine to want to save up for a better future, or for rainy days, but there are a few things to guard against.

1. Take heed and beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15)

Sometimes, in our pursuit of more wealth and more possessions in the world (initially out of a pure heart of providing more for loved ones), the sin of covetousness may creep into our heart and we find ourselves with an insatiable want for more.

How much, then, is enough? I really don’t know; I doubt anyone really knows. Probably that’s why Jesus taught us that no one can serve two masters – we cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).

But the Bible tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)

In Matthew 13:21-22, it also reminds us that the “deceitfulness of riches” can choke the word, causing the believer to become unfruitful.

Lately, as I began to gain more experience and expertise in my work, I find myself wanting to do more and more. I want to learn more, be trained more, and help more. Although this is not necessary a bad thing, I know that it has brought me further away from God. That initial love and thirst for God and His Word has vanished and I cannot recall what attracts me to want to study deeper into His Words. It was until the recent English Writers’ Retreat that I rediscover my love for His Word and remember how wonderful the Bible is again.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:34).

As we lay more and more treasures on earth (rather than in heaven), we will inevitably find our heart here also.

I guess, men are limited by space and time. There is only so much we can do and achieve in this life. Hence, what is it that you really want? Temporary, or eternal treasures?

2.  Do we trust riches or God?

It is interesting that in Mark 10:24, Jesus said, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” The emphasis on “trust in riches” here is not found in the other gospel books and is perhaps a good food for thought.

Do we really trust that God would provide?

And this ties in quite nicely with the last sentence of today’s parable,

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)

The “rich” in this verse is a verb in the original language, suggesting to me that these people are doing a lot for themselves, but not doing much unto God. One who does not really trust that God would provide would likely try means and ways to secure his life.

The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) is probably one such example who trusted more in riches than in God, because he “went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” He was not able to trust that God can give him much more.

Therefore, let us reflect upon ourselves whether we have been trusting in riches, rather than God, and whether we have unknowingly let covetousness creep in. (Which is why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven!) Remember that life does not consist in the abundance of the things one possesses, and that life is more than food, and the body more than clothing (Luke 12:15, 23) J

1 Timothy 6:17-19 sums up today’s sharing quite nicely,

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,  storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Question for reflection: What are some ways we can be rich toward God?

http://www.redeemingriches.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Money-Saver.jpg

Bible Passage: Luke 10:25-37

Dictionary.com defines “compassion” as a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

In today’s chapter, we learnt we need to do these in order to have eternal life:

1) Love God

2) Love Man

We find (1) much easier to do.

We receive abundant blessings from God, we know He loves us unconditionally. He asks nothing of us, except to obey His commandments.

Because He gives and gives, God is not difficult to love.

How about (2)?

We read of the Samaritan who had compassion on a man who was hurt. Instead of ignoring him like the levite or the priest, he tended to his wounds, took care of him and even took a step further by paying for the innkeeper to take care of him.

Are we like the Samaritan, or do we behave like the priest or Levite?

Every Saturday morning on my way to church, I would quickly walk past students carrying tin cans asking for donations. Reading this passage pricked my conscience. As a True Jesus Church member, I should be exercising generosity and compassion.

This reminds of a verse:

Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

Matthew 25:45

At times I feel sad when I see elderly toilet cleaners or road sweepers. At the mall today I saw a hunched back old man mopping the floor.

In what ways can I help these people?

They are poor and not in the true church..they are not saved! They lead a pitiful life in this world, yet they might end up even more pitiful and miserable after death.

As members of the true church, as God’s children who have received salvation grace freely given, how do we show compassion on these people?

We can do so, by preaching the gospel to them, by praying for their salvation, by praying for God to have mercy to open up the gates of their hearts.

How about people already saved?

For members whom we know are suffering physically or emotionally, we could exercise compassion by praying for them, paying them home visits. Even a simple encouragement, a comforting hand on their shoulder would lift up their spirits.

For members whom we know are not coming to church, we can do our part, by contacting or encouraging them, maintaining the bridge between them and the church. With the Mid Year Spiritual meeting around the corner, why not drop that friend of yours a simple text message, to encourage him or her to attend?

I often ask myself, where is my compassion, where has my love for others gone to?

Has the world today robbed me of my time or my thoughts for others?

Has our worldly affairs nudged God to one side, and pushed others out of the picture completely? Do we do everything only for our own benefits?

It is definitely difficult to do good to those who have done absolutely nothing for us, much less those who have offended or treated us badly.

Again I am reminded of this verse:

Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

Romans 12:20

In these end times, may God guide us, that our ways are aligned to His will, that we can be full of compassion, because He first had compassion on us by dying for our sins to secure our salvation.

聖經章節:  馬  13:44, 11:16-19; 路 7:31-35; 13:6-9; 馬 21:33-46; 可 12:1-12; 路 21:9-19

今天的閱讀有些令人沮丧是吗？

在这一系列耶稣的比喻 – 都指向神的選民，以色列人。他们表現出心懷惡意，不結果子，邪惡，逆叛和仇恨……

身為屬靈的以色列人，耶稣比喻的警告與今天的我们也很有关連。然而，今天我只想側重在一个中心 – 路加福音13:6-9…

无花果树的比喻

我认为这是一个很值得我们來思考的比喻。今年几乎要过了一半。

我们是否做了那些我们在今年初承诺耶稣所要做的事呢？我们有定期读经嗎？我们有更勤勞地參加聚會嗎？访问那些有需要的人？开始傳福音？

你有你的清單，我有我的。讓我感到擔心的是，时间过得这么快，而我的清單几乎還和今年初一樣長！

今年到現在為止，我们是否為主結了果子？

当我们从路加福音13:1往下讀，我们得知两个在當時众所周知在各地所发生的灾害。當時一般人的想法是，遭受患难的就是罪人，而他們應當遭遇这样的事情。既然这一群人在这里没有经历这些灾难，這就意味着他们没有犯罪！

你可以看出他们扭曲的思考逻辑嗎？

但他们有這樣的想法并不罕見……當沒有壞事情发生在我们身上時，我们认为我们所做的一切都沒有错，我沒有惹神不高兴。

但是，真是這樣吗？

耶稣谈到无花果树的比喻來告訴他們及今天的我們這個答案…

这无花果树令人失望的地方是，它沒有結任何的果子。即使已經三年過去了！

第一年后，主人给了它两个额外的机会，希望和期待這顆无花果树會結果。尽管有這额外的机会……它仍然沒有結果子。

很多时候，我们都也是這样。我们没有做我们应该做的事情。

我们说我们爱神和愛人。但很多时候，我们只爱自己，專顾自己。剛開始時我们會為了神，但最终我们卻將時間浪费在沒有益處的事上……我们甚至不记得我们所做過的事！

如果你是這无花果树的主人，你会怎么做？

我知道我会怎麼做……將它砍去。讓它繼續生長只是浪费我的时间，精力和资源，因为它在這段時間內没有做它应该做的事。它應該被砍下来，改种别的东西，使葡萄园可以生長更多的作物。

但在这里，園丁因怜悯而代為祈求。他祈求恩典 – 暂缓执行。

他说，“给它多一点时间，让我试著將它施肥……”

这园丁讓我想起了耶稣。

作为我们的中保，耶稣在天父面前，為我们的軟弱代求，使我们有机会再次成长。

我知道，神给了我很多机会重新开始。我知道我讓神失望了很多次，我沒有做到我所該做的。

但是，尽管我是軟弱的，神仍很有耐心地给我机会重新开始。

而且我相信你也曾這樣感受過。

但是我们悔改和結果子的機會都是有時效性的。

在这个比喻中，無花果樹真正的悔改的行為應該是结出果子。

同样的，让我们適時地省察自己今日我们所缺乏的地方，并开始开花结果。当主再次來時祂會悅納我们而不是將我们砍去。

求神怜悯我们。

Bible Passage:  Matt  13:44, 11:16-19; Lk 7:31-35; 13:6-9; Matt  21:33-46; Mk 12:1-12; Lk 21:9-19

It’s bit of a depressing read today, isn’t it?

Here are a series of parables of Jesus – all pointing to the chosen race of God, Israel.  And they come off looking vindictive, barren, wicked and murderous, betrayers and haters…

As spiritual Israelites, the warnings of the parables of Jesus in today’s passage are also very relevant to us.  However, instead of focusing on all the parables, I would just like to look at the one in the centre – Luke 13:6-9…

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree.

I thought that this was a rather apt parable to consider today.  Half a year has almost passed by.

Have we done everything we promised Jesus we would do at the start of the year?  Are we reading our bibles regularly?  Being more attentive in services?  Visiting those in need?  Start preaching?

You have your list and I have mine.  The frightening thing for me is that time has passed by so quickly and my to-do list is almost as long as when the year first started!

Have we been fruitful for the Lord so far this year?

When we read from Luke 13:1 onwards, we learn of two calamities that happened in those days that was well known to all around.  And the common thinking was that the people who suffered in the calamities were sinners and deserved such things to fall upon them.  And since this group of people here have not experienced these disasters, it must mean that they have not sinned!

Can you see their warped logic in their thinking?

But they are not alone in their thinking… when nothing extremely bad happens to us, we think that we are doing ok and that there is nothing that God is displeased with me.

But is that true?

Jesus spoke about the parable of the fruitless fig tree to give an answer to the people then and to us today…

What was so frustrating about this fig tree was that it did not bear any fruit.  Even after three years!

After the first year, the owner gave it two additional chances, hoping and expecting that the fig tree will bear fruit.  Despite this extra opportunities…. no fruit.

Very often, we are the same.  We don’t do what we are supposed to do.

We say we love God and others.  But very often, we love ourselves and look after ourselves.  We think about getting started for God.  We end up wasting our time doing things that brought no benefits…. we cannot even remember what we did!

What would you do if you were the owner of that fig tree?

I know what I would do…. chop it off.  It’s a waste of my time, effort and resources to keep it growing since it does not do what it is supposed to do after all this time.  It would make sense to cut it down and to plant something else in its place so that the vineyard will be as productive as possible.

But here, the gardener pleads for mercy on our behalf.  He pleads for grace – a stay of execution.

He says, “Give it a little bit more time… Let me try and nourish it more….”

This gardener reminds me of Jesus.

Jesus as our mediator before the Heavenly Father, pleading for our weaknesses so that we have the chance to grow again.

I know that God has given me many chances to start again.  I know that I have let God down many times and did not deliver what I am supposed to.

But despite all my weaknesses, God is patient with me and gives me a chance to start again.

And I believe you have experienced that you.

But there is an expiry date and time for us to repent and be fruitful.

In this parable, the result of true repentance would be for the fig tree to bear fruit.

Likewise, let us properly examine ourselves today and see where we are lacking and start working at bearing fruit.  So that when the Master comes around again, He would be pleased with us and not order for us to be truly cut down this time.

May God have mercy on us.