Leave it alone for one more year.

Luke 13:6-9

Hallelujah! Today is the last Sunday of the year, our 2024 Year-End Sunday. As we conclude this year, the world evaluates its accomplishments over the past twelve months. However, what our Lord evaluates in us is not our achievements but our fruitfulness.

Today’s passage follows Jesus’ teaching that unless we repent, we will perish. In this parable, Jesus illustrates His message with the example of a fig tree. Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus often uses the fig tree to deliver important lessons. For instance, in Matthew 21:18-20, it says: “Early in the morning, as Jesus was on His way back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately, the tree withered.”

Similarly, in Luke 21:29-31, Jesus uses another parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”

These parables involving the fig tree consistently convey a message about the end times and God’s judgment. Therefore, in light of this, I will focus today’s message on fruitfulness as we reflect on these teachings.

1. God is the one who gives us grace and patiently waits for us to bear fruit. In the parable, the owner of the vineyard planted a fig tree and waited three years for it to produce fruit, but it bore none. This illustrates God’s grace and patience in giving ample time and opportunity to bear fruit. When the owner said, “Cut it down,” it signifies judgment. However, the purpose of such a strong statement is not condemnation but a loving warning, urging the listener to bear fruit before it is too late.

In 2024, God has given us time and opportunity to bear fruit. We must not let this grace go to waste. However, that time is now coming to an end. If there is no fruit, we must heed the warning: “Cut it down.” I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the kind of fruit you have borne in the opportunities God has given you throughout 2024.

If we fail to evaluate and respond, 2025 may pass in the same way—without fruit. Then 2026 may follow in the same pattern, and eventually, our lives will come to an end. Let us not waste the opportunities God has graciously given us, but instead, commit to living fruitful lives for Him. 

2. Our Lord is fully committed to helping us bear fruit. The caretaker of the vineyard represents the Lord Himself, and by extension, His faithful servants who work alongside Him. The caretaker said, “Give it one more year, and I will dig around it and fertilize it.” This is not just about waiting another year but demonstrates a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to put in every effort to nurture and care for the tree. Perhaps the fig tree lacked sufficient fertilizer in the past, so the caretaker resolved to supply it abundantly.

We have a responsibility to bear fruit as a response to God’s grace. To do so, we must examine our lives, identify areas where we fall short, and make necessary changes. The most common and effective way to bear fruit is to meditate on God’s Word, pray to live according to it, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in transforming our lives.

How much effort have I made throughout this year to bear the fruit that God desires? Like the caretaker, I have resolved to say to the Lord, “Give me one more year, and I will dig around it and fertilize it.” Let us reflect on our journey and commit to bearing fruit in the coming year.

3. We are called to bear the fruit that God desires. In Scripture, fruit is defined in three ways.

The first is the fruit of repentance. Those who do not know Jesus often treat others according to the law. Why do wars and conflicts arise? It is because people reject the gospel and live by the law. They believe their own righteousness is supreme. The principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” governs their actions. However, the problem with approaching others through the law is that while it may achieve one’s goals, it cannot save anyone. God’s kingdom operates differently—its priority is the salvation of people. The call to repentance, therefore, is a call to abandon self-righteousness and accept God’s righteousness, which is at the heart of the gospel. To bear the fruit of repentance is to reject worldly values and establish biblical values. This fruit is evidence that we are children of God.

The second type of fruit is a transformed character, expressed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—the fruit of the Spirit. This fruit is borne when the Holy Spirit dwells within us and governs our hearts and lives. To bear this fruit, one must pray for the Spirit to take control and crucify the sinful nature on the cross. Our sinful nature constantly strives to take the place of authority in our lives. But the true Lord of our lives is Jesus Christ—God, the Creator of all things, who purchased us with His blood on the cross to save us from eternal condemnation.

Jesus, who loves us so deeply, is the one who brings true happiness. Our misery comes when our sinful nature is allowed to rule. How do you respond when you hear unjust words from someone close to you? How have you responded when you heard unjust words from someone close to you? Did you react out of your sinful nature, or did you, instead, submit yourself to God’s Word? For me, my sinful nature immediately reacts in anger because I believe I am right. However, because my spirit is awake and I am praying, I know that following my sinful nature leads to unhappiness. In those moments, I breathe deeply and let God’s Word, written on my heart, take control. This is how I crucify my sinful nature. As I live this way, I experience the fruit of the Spirit growing in me. This is evidence that I belong to the Spirit. I pray that you, too, will experience this evidence in your life.

The third type of fruit is the fruit of evangelism. The purpose of all fruit is reproduction because it contains seeds. When seeds are sown into the ground, they sprout and grow, reproducing life. Grapevines produce grapes, and fig trees produce figs. In the same way, the Bible compares people to trees. Each tree produces fruit after its own kind. Those who belong to the flesh will produce people of the flesh, while those who belong to the Spirit will produce people of the Spirit. Evangelism is the process of transforming people of the flesh into people of the Spirit. This is the fruit of evangelism.

How many people have been transformed from fleshly lives to spiritual lives—lives led by the Holy Spirit—through you in 2024? The Lord is looking for this fruit of evangelism in us. Let us strive to bear the fruit that He desires.

When the world evaluates the past year, it focuses on accomplishments—how much was achieved and what goals were met. However, when God evaluates us, He doesn’t assess us based on our achievements. He doesn’t measure us by whether we’ve grown our church or accomplished notable tasks. Growth often depends on talent, which is a type of accomplishment. But bearing fruit is different because it’s something every believer can do. God is fair, and that’s why He evaluates us based on the fruit we bear.

After Saul became king of Israel, he faced the Philistine army in battle. The Philistines were vastly superior in weaponry and military power compared to Israel. However, victory in war depends on God. To invoke God’s help, they needed to offer a sacrifice—a form of worship. The priest Samuel, who had the authority to perform sacrifices, instructed Saul to wait seven days. But even after seven days, Samuel didn’t arrive, and Saul’s soldiers began to scatter out of fear of the enemy’s strength. In his impatience, Saul took matters into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself. He should have trusted in God’s timing and exercised patience.

Saul’s focus was not on the fruit of the Spirit but on his own achievements. He was concerned only with securing a victory in battle—a personal accomplishment. While he did win the battle, this act of disobedience ultimately led to the loss of his kingship and, later, his life.

Friends, you might think achieving something significant is what defines a successful life. But what God desires is fruit, not accomplishments. What good is it to gain achievements if it costs you your life and soul? Reflect on this: Have you been more focused on worldly achievements or on bearing spiritual fruit? Take time today to deeply consider this question.

As we conclude this year, the evaluation should not be about what we accomplished but about whether we bore spiritual fruit. Let this be the true measure of our lives as we reflect on the past year.

As we conclude today’s message, I encourage you to make a resolution to bear fruit. In 2024, God has continued to give us time, opportunities, and weekly guidance on how to bear fruit. If we have truly listened to God’s Word as though it came directly from His mouth, we would have borne the fruit of repentance through a transformation of values, the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of saving souls.

If we do not take this seriously, even if God gives us the time and opportunities of 2025, we will live a life disconnected from bearing fruit. And what will the result of that be? This is why repentance cannot wait until tomorrow—it must happen now. Now is the time of salvation; now is the day of salvation.

Let us pray together:
“Lord, I desire for my life to be filled with the fruit that pleases You. Help me bear the fruit of repentance, the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of saving souls. Keep me awake in prayer so that I may always walk in Your will. Let the rest of my life be filled with spiritual fruit by Your grace, bringing glory to Your name. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”