”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. 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 13:6-9 NKJV

We planted two trees in our front yard at our home of 32 years. The one to the right, as one looks at the house, soon grew big and tall and shaded the yard. The one to the left, after numerous years, was barely bigger than when we first planted it. As I was giving up on it and about ready to change it out, God used this passage to speak wisdom and instruction to me. I followed the instructions in the scripture, and the tree began to grow. After a couple of years, it was almost as big as the first one. It did not take long for it to catch up after that.

There are two truths to capture here. First, there is great wisdom for our day in the Scriptures, if we will but hear, take counsel, believe, and obey. And second, for growth to happen, living things require the proper care and nourishment. For the Christian, the food and water needed is found in God’s Word, and in the fellowship of believers.

Is your spiritual growth stunted? Get with the people of God who can help you know how to study, and let God take His bread and living water to the root of the problem.