Cutting Bait

When do you know it is time to say no more, and give up?

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’ Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’ - Luke 13:1-9

I have struggled with this question my whole life.

It is the trowing good money after bad problem we are all taught in business.  At some point, we say, you have to cut bait, give-up, move on.

I am reminded of Jesus telling Peter and the disciples to forgive many times, not just once.  Second chances become many second chances.

But in today's parable, there is a plea for one more chance, not an ever ending sequence of them.  It is a bargain.  Give me a little time, the gardener says.  Perhaps he neglected his responsibility to care for the fig tree for three years, so he is not just asking for time for the tree, but for himself as well.

The failure to help is a failure we can all claim.  What could I have done to avoid this outcome?

Sometimes, though, the actions we should have taken were deemed harsh at the time.  Instead of working the soil and tending to the weeds, I let it be, I let the problem worsen.

The lesson here is a lesson in responsibility toward and for one another.  We should do all we can to help, and then, if the improvement we hope for is not evident, then, we can cut bait.

More to come...