Withering or Producing?

So Jonah was exceedingly glad of the gourd." but "when the morning rose the next day...the gourd it withered (Jonah 4:6b-7).

Jonah didn't learn his lesson when he ran from God and had a harrowing experience in the belly of a "great fish." He reluctantly went to Ninevah, but then he got mad when the people there repented and God showed them mercy. Angry and sulking, he stomped out of the city, sat down, and prayed for God to take his life. God questioned why he was acting like a spoiled child, yet He sent a gourd vine to shade and protect Jonah. Jonah appreciated the vine, but the next day a worm gnawed at its stalk, and it withered and died. How like Jonah are we? Determined to have our own way and refusing loving kindness to those we deem undeserving. Like Jonah, we are often blind to our own need for mercy.

But he went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough, now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah had his moment, too. He'd been strong for God when he faced off with Ahab, through the famine, and when confronting the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. However, when Jezebel threatened his life for destroying her pagan prophets, he ran into the wilderness. Finally, exhausted and depressed, he rested under a juniper tree and prayed that God would take his life. Elijah was not only still worried about what Jezebel might do, but he recognized his only failings when he said, "I am not better than my fathers. "However, God wasn't through with him yet. He sent an angel to minister to Elijah and eventually led him back into service.

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit therein, and found none, Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also till I dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down (Luke 13:6-9).

If we don't get God's lesson from Jonah or Elijah, Jesus tells us the parable of the fig tree. As the incidents from Jonah's and Elijah's lives show us, God's people are to bear fruit by their obedience. If we love God and others, if we have a strong relationship with our Lord, then we will bear fruit. If we aren't bearing fruit for Him, our priorities are misplaced. 

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