Can Olives Grow on a Fig Tree?
Fall 2024
If you live in a climate like mine, you’re probably experiencing crisp fall weather, needing sweaters in the evenings, seeing lots of pumpkins, and maybe you’ve even taken a trip to an apple orchard. Can you imagine visiting an apple orchard, but instead of seeing apples, you find there are pears on the apple trees? That would be crazy, right? We all know that pears can’t grow on apple trees!
In the book of James, the author asks us if a fig tree can grow olives. Figs are small pear-shaped fruits with skin that starts out green, but then ripens to a purple color. Olives are much smaller black or green fruits. They don’t really look similar, and they definitely don’t taste the same. James doesn’t ask the question because he’s confused—he knows that olives will never grow on a fig tree! James asks that funny question to make us think about our words!
In James 3, we learn a lot about our tongue and our words. James explains that although the tongue is a very small part of our bodies it can do very big things. Some people use their tongues to preach the gospel or tell their friends about Jesus or encourage people who are sad or struggling. Those are making a good use of their tongues.
But unfortunately, one of the big things our tongues can do is cause harm, like telling or spreading lies, like speaking unkind words, or using God’s name in irreverent ways. James helps us understand by comparing the tongue to a fire. A tiny little flame can be used to create a large, roaring fire that could keep us warm, roast marshmallows, or even cook a meal. Those are great things! But a tiny little flame could also turn into a large, roaring fire that could burn down a building, injure someone, or destroy a forest. A flame can be used for good or bad and so can our little tongues.
James 3:9 tells us that with our tongues we can bless God and we can also curse people who are made in the likeness of God. Wow! Did you know your tongue could do such opposite things? We have only one tongue, but with that one little tongue we can both worship God and speak unkind or ungodly words. James reminds us that “these things ought not so to be.” This should not be happening. If we love God, our tongues should not be speaking anything that is opposite of what God would want us to speak.
James asks the unusual question about the fruit trees to help us understand. In the same way that a fig tree can never grow olives, a Christian’s tongue should never want to speak in unkind or ungodly ways. Just as we would expect to find figs on a fig tree or apples on an apple tree, God expects to hear good, kind, and godly words coming from our mouths.
Is this always easy? Definitely not! Let me share some ways to help us use our tongues to please our God.
In chapter 1 James writes, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” We all—kids and grown-ups—need wisdom in how to use our tongues, properly and God promises to give us wisdom if we ask. The word liberally means generously. God will give us lots of wisdom if we ask!
Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” This verse reminds us that the things that are in our hearts and minds are the same things we will be talking about. We won’t be able to hide our thoughts for too long. If we’re thinking about ungodly or wrong things, we’ll eventually talk about them. If we’re thinking about true and good things, we’ll want to share them with others.
It’s not easy to keep our thoughts in the right place, though. In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives us some help. He encourages us with this advice: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, things on these things.” If we follow Paul’s guidelines for our thoughts, then our words will be much more honoring to God!
Finally, and most importantly, we should use our tongues to praise our God. We can pray with David in Psalm 51:15, “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” When we use our tongues to worship the Lord, we are like the tree that is growing the right kind of fruit and we are pleasing our Savior.