Proverbs 27:18
A Lesson from the Fig Tree
1. In this proverb, Solomon compares the benefit of keeping a fig tree to the benefit of waiting on one’s master.
2. He uses an illustration from nature to teach an important and deeper truth.
A. Keeping a Fig Tree
1. Keep defined: To watch; to watch over; to guard; to preserve; protect; maintain.
2. Keeping a fig tree speaks of the farmer who cares for the tree.
a. If the tree needs water, he waters it.
b. If the tree is attacked by bugs, he tries to keep the bugs away.
c. If the tree needs fertilizer, he puts fertilizer around it. The American Indians used to put the fish remains around fruit trees and used compost to fertilize their plants.
B. Shall Eat the Fruit Thereof
1. There are two implications/applications from this thought:
2. If a man takes care of the fig tree, then he has earned the right to eat of that tree. This thought is mentioned in several different contexts.
a. I Cor. 9:7 – The soldier who goes to war is worthy of his earnings; the man who plants a vineyard has every right to eat of that vineyard; the one who feeds a flock has a right to drink the milk of that flock.
b. I Cor. 9:9 – Even the ox that treads out the corn has earned the right to eat some of the corn.
c. I Cor. 9:14-15 – the Old Testament priests and those who preach the gospel have the right to live of the gospel.
d. Luke 10:7 – The laborer is worthy of his hire.
e. II Tim. 2:6 – “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
f. Thus, the man who takes care of a fig tree in the woods behind his house has every right to eat the fruit of the fig tree.
g. The first implication would emphasize his right to eat the fruit.
3. The second implication/application from this proverbial thought is the fact that there is a direct connection between the kind of care he gives the tree and the quality of the fruit he gets from the tree.
a. The implication is that if he keeps it well, it will produce well for him.
b. This is seen in the meaning of the word translated “keep.” It means to maintain, care for, tend to, etc.
c. If you care for the tree, you will get fruit. If you don’t care for the tree, it may not produce any fruit—or any fruit worth eating.
d. And if you take extra good care of the tree, then it will provide a top quality fig that you can enjoy.
e. There is a connection between labor and the fruits of one’s labor. (One commentator noted that among fruit trees, fig trees are high maintenance.)
f. There is a connection between good quality labor and good quality rewards. The tree will provide bountifully for you.
g. That’s the lesson from the fig tree.
4. The application is manifold: there are lots of things in life that are like the fig tree: if you take good care of it; it will take good care of you!
a. This is true of many material things in life: car; tools; house; etc.
b. This is true about our own bodies. Normally, if we take good care of our body, it will serve us well.
c. This is also true in the spiritual realm. If we take good care of our heart, it will serve us well—all the days of our lives. If we keep it with all diligence, it will protect us—for out of it comes all the issues of life.
1. Solomon takes the agricultural lesson that everyone in his day could relate to and applies it specifically to what we would call the “workforce.”
a. He likens a farmer tending to a fig tree to a servant tending to his master.
2. “Waiting on his master”
a. Waiting on: To care for; to pay attention to; to tend to; to serve.
b. Basically, this is the same concept of caring for a fig tree.
c. The servant is to wait on his master.
• Whatever the master needs, the servant is to do what he can to provide.
d. Of course, this implies waiting on one’s master and doing a good job at it. He is speaking about the servant who takes GOOD care of his master and his master’s needs.
3. “Shall be honored”
a. This servant shall be rewarded; honored; given high status.
b. The term is occasionally translated “glorified.”
c. Like a fig tree, if you take good care of it; it will take good care of you.
d. The servant who does a good job in caring for his master will be rewarded with honor – just like the farmer who takes good care of his fig tree is rewarded with good fruit.
e. Of course this is a proverb. There are exceptions to the rule. Some masters were evil and cruel and wouldn’t ever think of showing honor to a servant.
f. But all things being equal, the principle in this proverb holds true in most settings.
4. The application to us today is obvious.
a. Our social and political situation is different than a monarchy in Solomon’s day, but this principle still holds true.
b. Wherever we work, the worker who attends to his responsibilities and does what his boss wants will be honored.
c. Of course there are some evil bosses just like there were evil masters in days gone by. But in most situations, doing a good job for the boss usually is rewarded.
d. Solomon is encouraging us to be diligent and faithful in doing our jobs.
e. Solomon wrote in Ecc. 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” That kind of work is normally rewarded.
f. Sometimes it takes years for a fig tree to grow and become fruitful. But the one who tends to it faithfully and diligently will be rewarded—in time.
g. Sometimes it may seem that years go by without being noticed or appreciated at work. But normally diligence and faithfulness will eventually be noticed and rewarded. It may take time.
h. Prov. 22:29 – “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
• Kings, lords, masters, and bosses notice workers that are reliable, faithful, diligent, and genuine.
• They are few and far between… but when recognized as the real thing, they are rewarded.
• And even if men don’t notice, the Lord certainly does.
• Matt. 25:21 – “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
• Gen. 39:2-5 – Joseph illustrates this truth. He was a servant who took good care of his master and was rewarded by being made head steward over all of Potiphar’s goods.
• Col. 3:22-24 – In the work world, when we follow the principles in this passage, we WILL be rewarded for diligent service. If not in this life, in the life to come.
i. Faithful men are rare: Prov. 20:6 – “A faithful man, who can find?”
• But those in positions of authority LOOK for them.
• David did. He looked for faithful men to serve in his court. He was looking primarily for men of character (not brilliance or skill—although those qualities may be needed, character matters more.)
• Ps. 101:6-7 – “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”
5. This is certainly true in doing the work of the Lord.
a. John 12:26 – The one who faithfully follows and serves Christ will one day be honored by the Father.