The Barren Fig Tree

Then he told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' But the man replied, 'Sir, leave it alone for one more year. Let me dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'

There's grace in the vineyard keeper's response. Not just judgment, but another chance. Care and fertilizing. The tree isn't instantly condemned. It's given another year with extra attention. I think about my own barrenness—seasons where nothing is growing, where I'm not producing. The parable says there's room for that. Extra attention. One more year. But also honesty: eventually, if there's no fruit, you get cut down. It's not infinite patience with permanent non-fruiting. But there is a season of extra grace.