God's Manure Pile

It is always interesting to hear how people handle the parables of Jesus. Some see them as allegories and try to take every part of the parable and make it stand for something. It seems intuitive but sometimes that is not what Jesus intended. He just knew how to tell a good story that hit right where you live. The classic line about a parable is that it is a "earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Point well taken, but I have heard a lot of people use that line that do not know how to read a parable. Jesus told one in Luke 13 that intrigued me this morning.

It goes like this: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷And 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?' ⁸And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ⁹Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" -Luke 13.6-9 (www.lifejournal.cc)

Immediately people look at this parable and say that the tree represents Israel. Ok, a fig tree often represents Israel...so does an olive tree. It probably does here. However, it can also represent a lot of other people and the audience that heard it that day probably were not thinking about national ramifications. They were probably thinking about the same thing we are: the day to day stuff and how WE are going to handle it. Those who love to 'identify' everything in a parable ought to have fun here identifying the manure. They are probably the same folks that will get a little 'squirrelly' when the manure is identified.

Let me tell you what I think it means and why it gives me and you hope for today. The tree stands for those who need a touch from God. They either don't know the Lord or they are too crowded with the everyday to live for Him as if they know Him. We are quick to dismiss them and to give up on them. We have waited long enough. However, God is the God of second chance. If we can get the world away from their roots and put the 'good stuff' of God in there, then growth can come. Give them a little longer. Thank you, Lord! Sometimes I need a little longer.

Now, before you ploop back and sink your roots into the world a little deeper for another season of fruitlessness, notice as well, time does run out. God will clean your roots with his conviction and give you the opportunity for good stuff but you better take advantage of it. The ax will be laid in the future. Let's not waste another day! Let's sink our roots into the good stuff today, God's manure pile, and live fruitfully for Him!