Bearing Good Fruit Through the Guidance of the Holy Spirit
March 27, 2025
Have you ever walked through an orchard, marveling at trees heavy with ripe fruit? Their branches stretch skyward, offering vibrant oranges, juicy apples, and sweet figs. What if you came across a single tree standing barren, devoid of any fruit. This tree, surrounded by thriving neighbors, fails to flourish. The answer lies beneath the surface—in the care it has (or hasn’t) received.
Jesus draws a similar picture in Luke 13, telling us the parable of a fig tree that had not borne fruit in three years. Frustrated, the vineyard owner says to the gardener, “Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” But the gardener, with patience and expertise, intervenes, asking for one more year to nurture the tree, fertilize the soil, and give it a chance to bear fruit.
This parable encourages us to examine our own lives. Are we metaphorical fig trees that flourish and offer meaningful "fruit," or do we stand barren, disconnected from purpose and love?
Fig Tree. Photography by Ben Kerckx
Bearing Fruit in Action
A common interpretation of this parable is that the story is not about literal trees or figs but rather about the intentionality of a fruitful existence. Jesus’s teaching challenges us to question whether our actions reflect God’s ultimate vision for love, compassion, and justice.
Are we cultivating lives that bear good fruit? Are we rooted in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, pruning away what hinders our growth and stepping into renewal? These are challenging yet necessary questions to ask—not only as individuals but as communities, churches, and global citizens.
Luke 13’s Tough Questions
The chapter begins with the tragic mention of Galilean worshippers killed by Pilate's orders. The crowd asks Jesus a timeless question many still wrestle with today, “Did they suffer because of their sins?”
Jesus deflects their inquiry into divine punishment versus human tragedy. He challenges instead, “No, but unless you repent, you too will all perish.” In other words, tragedy is not always tied to divine retribution. However, unchecked human sin can still lead to societal collapse, division, or even personal destruction.
Jesus’s quick pivot to the parable of the fig tree invites reflection on repentance—not as a passive, individualistic act, but as active transformation. What habits, systems, and attitudes must we tend to or uproot in order to bear fruit?
The Gardener’s Patience and the Call to Action
The gardener in the parable offers a profound example of hope and intentional effort. Change, growth, and renewal are not automatic. Trees don’t spring fresh fruit overnight, and neither can we. These transformations require dedication and action, guided by faith and the Spirit’s wisdom.
To care for a tree that’s been barren for years, the gardener commits to fertilizing the soil, tending to its roots, and closely monitoring its progress. This is a reminder that spiritual growth, personal healing, or creating justice in the world requires just as much intentional care.
Thoughts and prayers are not enough! Truly bearing fruit demands digging deep, addressing obstacles, and actively participating in God’s transforming work.
Good Fruit as Discernment
But what does "good fruit" look like? How do we know we’re on the right path? Scripture gives us a framework.
Radical Compassion - Good fruit reflects God’s radical love, where kindness is extended even to strangers and enemies. Are our actions fueled by compassion or judgment?
Justice over Empires - Jesus contrasts God’s reign with oppressive systems like the Roman Empire. Good fruit challenges hierarchical and corrupt powers, standing with the marginalized.
Building God’s Kin-dom - Is our community one where everyone is valued, welcomed, and loved? The fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.) serve as a litmus test for our lives.
Service and Self-Care - Are we engaged in serving others while maintaining sustainable self-care? Both are essential for living a faithful, abundant life.
Resistance to Isolation - The barren fig tree stands alone, disconnected. Community, collaboration, and relational accountability nourish our growth.
If our fruit aligns with these divine ideals rather than the toxic narratives of empire, we are steadily living lives that reflect Christ’s teachings.
Renewal When All Feels Lost
But what happens when we put in effort, listen to the Spirit, read all the right books, and still feel like failure looms? What if, after all the tending, the tree still doesn’t bear fruit?
Here’s the Good News: Even when it feels like our efforts have fallen short, the Holy Spirit continually guides us toward renewal. Sometimes we may have to prune a branch, or even uproot a tree altogether. Yet, this is not the end. Making room for growth creates space for new possibilities.
When you’ve given your 110%, trusted God, and things still don’t pan out, we trust that the Spirit doesn’t abandon us. God is a God of second chances, renewal, and guidance.
It’s okay to stumble, redirect, and try again. Faithful living is not always a straight line, and good fruit doesn’t arrive in a single harvest. Success doesn't happen overnight; it’s an ongoing relationship with God’s Spirit.
Pruning a tree, fertilizing its soil, and tending to its roots is often uncomfortable, messy, and uncertain. But walking courageously into these processes means reflecting God’s love, even in the face of failure. When we partner with the Spirit, putting faith into action, we can transform both our lives and the spaces around us into abundant orchards of good fruit.