Luke 13:7 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?

Recently I made a comment about this verse. I drew a conclusion but was it the right conclusion? Was it the only conclusion? Where else in scripture can I learn more about this telling tale?

Leviticus 19:23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.

As I pondered these verses together I began to draw lines between the verses and my own experience. There was a connection between the two which might not be obvious to all, may not apply to all, but in me I found relevance.

I was baptized in 1964. Immediately the deacons of the church started making plans for how they could use me. I was railroaded into becoming the county president of the Baptist Youth Fellowship. In this I had no foundation for promotion. I failed miserably. I even began to question my salvation.

I would have been better off if they had treated me as in Lev. 19:23 and treated me as uncircumcised until I began to bear fruit that indicated where my roots were formed. The BYF would have been better off also because I used up time which would have been more productive under the right leadership.

When we look to promote men and women within the church body the first requirement we look for is a history of devotion to the Word, to growth and the fruit which indicates where the roots are formed.

Numbers 24:11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honour.

Learn the lessons and apply them appropriately.