Privilege

Today’s meditation has been occasioned by my friend’s generous offer in sending me some fertilizer for my mango tree. Let me remind you of some facts. I never asked for fertilizer for the tree. In fact, putting fertilizer to the tree was the furthest thing from my mind. However, I believe that my friend is more of a gardener than I am and obviously knows much more about bearing fruit trees, than I do. Also, this was all done to ensure that he would receive more mangoes next time the tree bore mangoes.

It is the work of fertilizing that has stuck with me, especially when it was brought to us in this truth-actualizing lesson. You and I can boast that we have Jesus with us and in us, but unless our relationship with  Him is fertilized with un-wavering faith and unadulterated trust, the best fertilizers of healthy growth in Christ, the fruit borne in us will be very meagre, insipid and without abundance. 

We now take an in-depth look at what Jesus is telling us about fertilizing and how important it is. We are looking at the parable of the unproductive, non-bearing fig tree. However, our emphasis will be centered on the fertilizing of the unproductive tree. This parable is most fascinating and I have decided to bring it to you as recorded in the NKJV.

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down. Luke 13: 6b - 9

Today, and for the remainder of the week, we shall receive a life-growing word, each scooped out from the bowels of our text. Today’s word is privilege.

Privilege – A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard.

The fig tree has not been planted in a forest or some disowned, abandoned field that is unkempt. No! This fig tree has been given privilege, in that it has been given place in a well-cultivated, privately owned vineyard. When one hears the word, vineyard, the mind automatically goes to grape vines all running in orderly form, as they have been trained. But in this vineyard is a fig-tree. Whatever else may be meant by vineyard, in this offering, we are taking vineyard literally to mean a place where grapes are cultivated.  As we move on with this understanding of vineyard, there is a super lesson of privilege for each of us, Gentile people.

God’s vineyard, His grape-growing Israelites, are those to whom, ‘the Bread of Promise’ has been given and not to their dogs. Jesus once spoke this to a Gentile woman, who wished Him to be of service to her. It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs. Matthew 15: 26b. I bring the vision of a fig-tree in a vineyard as one of total privilege, by the desire of the owner of the vineyard and nothing of the tree.

Is this not a perfect picture of privilege, which has been given to you and me, Gentiles, sinners? God’s vineyard is for the Jews, yet we who are non-Jews, have been given privilege, by the work which Christ Jesus wrought for all Gentiles through His precious, priceless life-saving Blood. It is distinctly and only because of the Blood of Jesus, you, a fig tree, can be seen planted in God’s vineyard.  

O the privilege Christ gives to sinners,

To be planted where we could not be sown,

Through unmerited, free grace He offers,

By His precious Blood, which makes us His own.

Amen!