If You Are Wise, You Will Fertilize
But he answered and said to
him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also,
until I dig around it and
fertilize it.’ – Luke 13:8
It’s Springtime, the time of year when we fertilize
and prepare our gardens and plant flowers and vegetables. It’s also the time of
year when flowers are beginning to bloom and trees are budding. It’s a time of
color and warmer weather. It’s a time of newness. It’s a welcome change from
the darkness and gloom of the winter and time just preceding Spring. Now why am
I talking about Springtime? Has dear Pastor Claude waxed horticultural? Well,
not exactly. I love flowers and Spring, but I have another “culture” to discuss
beyond horticulture.
I want to talk to you about fertilization. Jesus spoke
of fertilization you know? He spoke of it to illustrate a spiritual preparatory
action to help us be fruitful. God desires we are fruitful in life. A producing
saint is a beautiful saint to the LORD. A fruitfully productive saint attracts
others and is a welcome sight. What do I mean when I title this message, “If
You Are Wise, You Will Fertilize”? How and why should we fertilize? Let’s see.
In Luke 13 Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. And
along the way He is given some news. Here we will look at what Jesus thought
about the news reporting of His day. We will find that He appears Jesus doesn’t
think too much of the reporting of current events. What He does care about is
the personal repentance of people. There’s a great lesson to be learned in
this.
13 There were present at that season some who told Him about
the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
We have no record of the actual events referenced here
in these verses. The Galileans of Jesus day were known for being rebellious. Pilate
was very much known as a politician who would not hesitate to make examples of
people in vicious and violent ways. And apparently what he had done to these
Galileans was breaking news being circulated among the people. This was the
current headline, the breaking news story of the day.
2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do
you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered
such things? 3 I tell you, no;
An Act of God? When something bad happens to
someone, we often do one of two things. First, we attribute the tragedy to God.
Insurance companies won’t cover things they define as “An Act of God.” Why do
people automatically assign blame to God for tragedies? While God is sovereign
and nothing happens that doesn’t go across His desk for approval so to speak,
He is not the Author of all tragedy. In Job 1 we discover the hand of Satan in
the “great wind” that brought the house down on Job’s children (Job 1:18-20).
God gave Satan permission to afflict Job, but it was Satan who brought the
storm. We shouldn’t be quick to assign blame for tragedies to God.
The judgment of God is on
them! The
second thing people often do when tragedy hits is that they blame the victims
of the tragedy. They say, “They must have done something to bring this tragedy
upon themselves and God is judging them. This is also disproven in the book of
Job when we see Job described as “blameless and upright, and one who feared God
and shunned evil” (Job 1:1). In Job 1 and 2 we discover that the tragedy and
affliction experienced by Job was instigated by Satan. The bulk of the book of
Job has Job not only afflicted greatly in various ways, but answering the
accusations of his “friends,” who seek to blame him for what has happened to him.
Look deeper at tragedy and
hardship. People
of Jesus time would have been perplexed at this because they thought evil only
happens to evil people. They frequently looked at their world in superstitious
ways. Jesus goes on to dismiss this notion and points the people to more
important things. “Do you suppose that these Galileans
were worse sinners than all other
Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no;” Sometimes the tragedy that comes on
people is at the hand of God in a disciplinary way (e.g., the captivity of
Israel in the Old Testament). And sometimes tragedy comes upon people as a
consequence of sinful choices they make. But Job and Jesus tell us here that,
that isn’t always the case. We know from scripture, (and these people should
have known), that bad things, evil things also happen to “good” people, even
righteous people. Job is an example of this. Therefore, we need to look deeper
at tragedy and hardship.
but
unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
Don’t let the news or
current events keep you from repenting and getting right with God. Jesus points to the greater,
more relevant issue of the day for these people, i.e., “but unless you repent
you will all likewise perish.”
The people of Judea looked down on those of Galilee
because of they were mostly Gentiles. Jews referred to this area as “Galilee of
the Gentiles” (cf. Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15). Because they were Gentiles, it
was assumed they were less spiritual, and they were discriminated against by
the Jews. Jesus is having none of that and tells them they themselves needed to
repent.
God is not racist. While the gospel came to the
Jew first and then the Gentiles (Romans 1:16; 2:9 and 10), we shouldn’t assume
God is bigoted or racist. Indeed. The Bible tells us very clearly, “For there
is no partiality with God” (Deuteronomy 10:17; Acts 10:34; Romans 2:11; see
context). There was a planned sequence of sharing the gospel, but the gospel
plan of God was always intended to reach the world, bot Jew and Gentile.
It’s more important to
repent. To
“repent” (Greek metanoeo) means, to think differently, to reconsider, to
change one’s mind. To repent means
to confess and forsake one’s sin. Repentance
is integral to getting right with God. God is patient and long suffering with
us in hopes that the sinner will repent (Romans 2:1-4). God desires none to
perish but for everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God, “desires all
men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). And
repentance is a big part of that.
4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell
and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no;
but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
Jesus was aware of current
events. Jesus
was aware of what went on in the world around Him. He was familiar enough with
current events to reference them as He did here. There is nothing
intrinsically, spiritually, or scripturally that would justify a willful
ignorance of what is happening in the world around us. Jesus kept abreast of
current events, we should too.
The Pool of Siloam is located south of what is called
the Temple Mount today. It was fed by the Gihon Spring which fed water through
Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Apparently by this pool there had been a tower that fell,
and eighteen people died as a result.
Jesus is not a racist. Notice, Jesus says, “do you
think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?”
The “all other men” is further proof of impartiality. I say this because it has
become popular for “woke” pastors who detract from God’s word in order to exert
their own authority have become to bring accusation against Jesus as a
“racist.” Nothing could be further from the truth. “For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God loves the “world,” and
offers salvation to “whoever believes.” These are clear statements of
impartiality.
Safe Spaces?
In times of difficulty such as Pilates mingling of the
blood of some Galileans with their sacrifices and the eighteen on whom the
tower of Siloam fell, people seek out safe spaces. But in truth, there are no
safe spaces. Evil has a way of finding people. Instead of safe spaces, we need
to take refuge in a Person.
The Bible says:
·
Psalm
23:4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil; For You are
with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
·
Psalm
28:8–9 - The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9Save
Your people, and bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, and bear them up
forever.
·
Psalm
31:1–5 - In You, O Lord,
I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. 2Bow
down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of
defense to save me. 3 For You
are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. 4Pull me out
of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. 5Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You
have redeemed me, O Lord God of
truth.
·
Psalm
46:1–3 - God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2Therefore we
will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
The message of the Bible is not to take refuge in a
place or even a “kingdom,” but to take refuge in God. That is what we will see
here. There are no safe spaces, not
even the kingdom of God here, but our refuge needs to be in God. Get right with
God.
6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had
a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found
none. 7 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?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year
also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut
it down.’ ”
But be wise
and fertilize. Jesus turns to a tool He often used in communicating to the lost, parables. A Parable is a method of
communicating that illustrates a heavenly
or spiritual truth by way of referencing a well-known or commonly known
situation. Here Jesus refers to a man who had planted a vineyard. Such a
reference would be very familiar and common in this agrarian society.
God desires
fruitfulness. The dilemma referred to by Jesus here would be something the people He
was speaking too would be very familiar with. A man planted a vineyard. He goes
to get some fruit from it and finds none. This condition had gone on for some
three years already. The man had had enough. “Cut it down; why does it use up
the ground?” he says. Now, this man would have been justified in thinking and
proceeding the way he did. But Jesus conveys something further.
God desires us to be fruitful. From the first command
to humanity to “be fruitful and multiply,” God desires us to be fruitful (e.g.,
Genesis 1:22, 28; 8:17; 9:1 and 7). In the parable of the Sower, Jesus refers
to fruitfulness as the indication of
true conversion (cf. Mark 4:20; Luke
8:15). Jesus says every branch that doesn’t bear fruit will be cut off by the
Vinedresser His Father (cf. John 15:2). Jesus says we can’t bear fruit on our
own but only by being attached to Him (John 15:4). But the purpose of Jesus
choosing us is to bear fruit. He said to the apostles:
·
John
15:16 - 16 You
did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and
bear fruit, and that your fruit
should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (cf.
Matthew 7:15-19). The “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-24) are indicators
of the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person. Love is the prime fruit that a
genuinely saved person who has been born again of the Spirit should produce
(cf. Romans 5:5). Fruitfulness is normal for the genuine born-again believer (e.g.,
Colossians 1:10; 2 Peter 1:5-9).
A little more
time. The
“keeper” (Greek ampelourgon) or
vinedresser, suggests the owner give the plant more time. He says, “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.” Now what point is
Jesus making here? I suggest three.
First, God is
merciful to give you more time to repent if you haven’t already. In Romans 2 it states:
·
Romans
2:1–4 - Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are
who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who
judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment
of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And
do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing
the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you
despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
God is good, patient and longsuffering. He graciously
waits for sinners to repent. However, . . .
Second, God
will judge in truth at some point. While the gardener suggested more time be given to the
plant, he also said that after this one-year extension of time, it should be cut down; or judged. God
has graciously given the unrepentant sinner time.
But that time is not forever. Eternal life is forever. But the time God
gives for sinners to repent is limited. Jesus is subtly communicating that now is the time to repent! Now is the day of
salvation!
Third, if you
are wise you will fertilize. Now fertilizer is food that has been consumed and processed
through bodily functions by animals. Fertilizer is deteriorated decayed
material that is rich in nutrients so that where it is spread, it facilitates
growth. My further question is, “What do you think Jesus was referring to by
mentioning this fertilization?” I believe it was these current event stories.
How do we
fertilize spiritually? The Apostle Paul makes an interesting comment that dovetails
nicely with Jesus his Savior and Lord’s words. The Apostle Paul gives us
insight into spiritual fertilization. To the Philippians Paul was inspired to
write:
·
Philippians
3:7–11 - But what things were gain to me, these I have counted
loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for
the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain
Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
which is from the law, but that which
is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings,
being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain
to the resurrection from the dead.
The word “rubbish” in verse eight is translated from
the Greek term skubala. Skubala is a
word used to describe table scraps,
trash, garbage, sewage, manure, excrement. This is a word used to refer to something to be thrown out or disposed of,
something disgusting, filthy abhorrent such as a rotting corpse or partly
eaten fish. leftovers to the dogs, or sweepings, sewage, muck, or
dung. Hence, it connoted something disgusting, filthy, abhorrent, that which
was to be rejected or thrown out. It can also refer to “pitiful or horrible
remains” as a rotting corpse partly eaten by fish.
What does it mean to spiritual
fertilize? How do we spiritually fertilize? To fertilize spiritually is to
“count all things loss” that keep us from “the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord.” To fertilize spiritually is to look at the things around
you and “count them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.” To
fertilize spiritually is to do a self-assessment, to look around you at the
things in your life, the things you watch, the things you do, your past times
and things you participate in, and anything that hinders you from knowing
Jesus, see it as rotten flesh or dead fish parts and throw it in the garbage
and make it mulch to fertilize your life to know Christ better. That is what it
means to spiritually fertilize.
Make a mainstream
media mulch. It’s very easy to get caught up in the news, breaking stories, and
current events of the day. The news, whether watched, read, or listened to, can
be a source of distraction and even depression if we focus too much on it. I
think Jesus is telling the people it’s
okay to be aware of current events, but at some point, you have to pass them
through; let them serve to spur you on to repentance and getting right with
God. At some point we should take what we have accumulated and consumed from
the mainstream media and throw it in a mulch pit and use it to fertilize us; to
help us become fruitful instead of futile.
That happens when we pass it all through the screen of God’s word. God’s
word helps us to keep it all in perspective. Test all things and hold on to
what is good (1 Thess. 5:21). The rest, throw it in the mulch pit and
fertilize.
Prophetic
processing. Fear
is often the product of a diet of mainstream media. But the Bible says very
clearly, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). If we simply take the “news” at face value
and the way media packages it, we will likely be reduced to terrified wrecks.
But, if we process current events through the lens of God’s prophetic word, it
will help us make sense of the world we live in and understand the times. We
need to be like the “sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to
know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32a). The Apostle Peter was
inspired to put it like this:
·
2 Peter
1:19–21 - 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do
well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and
the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first,
that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for
prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
“Which you do well to heed.” “Heed” (Greek prosechontes – Present/Active/Participle
of prosecho) which means continue to pay attention to, continue to
watch, be attentive to give heed to keep following, be devoted to, be concerned
about. Whatever we see on the news, whatever news we read or hear about,
should be processed prophetically. We should constantly be asking, “Now where
does this fit into God’s prophetic plans?” Ignorance is an ingredient to fear.
Understanding, especially understanding from Gods’ word, dispels fear and
builds faith and courage (e.g., Romans 10:17).
Light it up! God’s prophetic word is a
light in the darkness of this world. And if we process the events taking place
in this world by God’s word, eventually “the day dawns and the morning star
rises in your hearts.” The light will go on, the confusion, delusion, and
uncertainties that feed fear will be exposed and defeated and your faith will
rise up. All of this is a product of the Holy Spirit directing us, teaching us,
comforting us with His word (e.g., John 14:26-27; 16:13). Jesus said, “And now
I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may
believe” (John 14:29). That is the principle of prophecy; God tells us what to
expect beforehand, that we might process what we see and believe.
Let’s dig in! Pardon the pun, but now is
the time to process what we have been taking in. How about you, are you finding
yourself locked into news reports so much so that they are dragging you away
from God? Are you depressed by the darkness of what’s reported of what is going
on in the world today? Maybe it’s time to pass those things through and
fertilize. Maybe it’s time to take a break and examine your life and get right
with God through faith in Jesus. Maybe it’s time to respond to God patience and
grace and love and get right with Him.
Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary, The - The Complete Biblical
Library Greek-English Dictionary – Sigma-Omega.
