March 14, 2004

Third Sunday of Lent

Luke 13:1-9

 "Get Your Boots!"

     A Bible story about an orchard - well, it's about time!  An old farm boy like me (and Dave Helsel) can really relate to this one.  I used to manage orchards, so I know what this story is about - fertilizer! 

     Each winter, before the spring thaw, we'd get out the tractors and the spreaders and broadcast fertilizer through the orchards.  In the old days they used manure, but we used carefully formulated chemical fertilizers designed for the exact soil conditions we were trying to improve.  We used an N-P-K mix (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium), something like the fertilizers you see in a garden store as a 10-10-10, 10-15-10 or similar mix.  Chemical fertilizers are easier and more economical to handle, but they really aren't much of an improvement over good old cow manure.  In the old days, people got out their boots and shovels, cleaned out the stalls and fertilized the fields and orchards.  These days, a delivery truck augers the N-P-K mix right into the hopper on your spreader.  You don't even have to get your feet dirty.

     Now, what in the world does any of this have to do with the Bible text from Luke today and us city-folk?  Well, look at verses 6-9 of Luke 13:

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.  And he said to the vinedresser, 'Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none.  Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?'  And he answered him, 'Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig around it and put on manure.  And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

     This story reveals several things about God and Jesus.  First of all, God expects that will live lives that yield good fruit.  Proverbs 11:30 states:

The fruit of those who are right with God, is the tree of life.      

Secondly, God is patient with us.  As the owner of the orchard waited three years for the fig tree to produce and was willing to wait more, so God takes the long-view of our lives, waiting to see what will become of us.  Third, like a good farm manager, Jesus intercedes on our behalf, doing what he can to encourage good fruit in us.  And fourth, to this end, he shovels on the fertilizer, providing the essential elements we need for spiritual growth and bearing fruit.  This crop is what the Apostle Paul wrote about in Galatians 5:22, what he called, "the fruit of the Spirit";

"...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

     Our good fruit is the result of our being nourished by the essential elements Christ gives and allowing these gifts to filter into our beings and ultimately influence our words and actions.  These essential elements aren't nitrogen, phosphorous or potassium of course, but faith, hope and love, as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. 

     These essential elements don’t originate with us, but are gifts from God brought to the world through Jesus.  These gifts flowed from his teachings and healings and certainly from his sacrifice on the cross.  He offers these essential elements to us and we can offer them to others. 

     This means that there are times when we are that needy fig tree, falling short of God’s expectations, in need of the nourishment of forgiveness and salvation.  But it also means that when we’ve been fed, when that good fruit is produced in our lives, we have goodness to share and can pass on that same faith, hope and love. 

     Let me give you an example.  When I was in the eighth grade my English teacher took me aside one day for a little consultation.  I had assumed the esteemed role of class clown.  I wasn’t paying attention to her and worse, I was disrupting the class.  Her response to my adolescent behavior caught me by surprise.  Rather than chewing me out in front of everyone or sending me to the principal's office, she put her hand on my shoulder and looked right into my eyes and said, "Dave, I know you can be a terrific student if you want to be.  I believe you can do better than this."  After that, I could no longer see her as the easy target of my childish humor, but as someone who had faith in me, hope for me and love for me.  It made all the difference.  I got A's the rest of the year.  I also never forgot that formative bit of education.  It continues to influence the way I teach and treat other people.

     Interceding on our behalf, Jesus gives us what we need, saying, "I see in you the potential for great fruitfulness."  He revealed his faith, hope and love for us in his life, death and resurrection and continues to do so every time his Holy Spirit tugs at our hearts, telling us we can do better.  Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last."  We were meant for this.

     This is why we are trying new things, cultivating, getting our boots on and shoveling faith, hope and love around our church these days.  We have chosen not to settle for the same-old-same-old because a fruitful orchard is meant to grow and bear a fresh crop for each new season.

     How about you - is yours a fruitful life?   Do the people in your life say, “Now there’s a person of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”?  If not, maybe it’s time for a fresh application of fertilizer, time for trusting the One who can renew your life and bring out the best in you. 

     There are plenty bad apples out there – you don’t have to be one of them.  If you want to have a real and positive impact on this troubled world today, you can start with yourself, start right at home, trusting the Savior, bearing good fruit, letting the people in your life know you have faith, hope and love for them. 

     Mother Theresa said none of us can do great things, only small things with great love.  That little old lady made the world a better place that way, one small expression of great love at a time.  You can too.