The context in which we find this parable surrounds a scandal involving a man named Abimelech, who wanted to rule over the Israelites during a time when Israel had no king, and it was still God’s will that Israel have no king. Abimelech conspired with some less than savory characters from his hometown to have them help him kill his seventy other brothers, so that he could then rule over them. And they succeeded in killing 69 of them, all but the youngest, Jotham, who hid himself. Then later, after his escape, he came and told this parable to the town who had conspired with Abimelech to kill his other 69 brothers. Here is Jotham’s parable – (Judges 9:8-15)

Once, the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us!’ But the olive tree replied, ‘Am I supposed to leave my oil which is used to honor both God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees?’ So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You, come and rule over us!’ But the fig tree replied, ‘Am I supposed to leave my sweetness and my good fruit, just to go and hold sway over the trees?’ So the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You, come and rule over us!’ But the grapevine replied, ‘Am I supposed to leave my wine, which gives cheer to God and humanity, just to go and hold sway over the trees? Finally, all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You, come and rule over us!’ The thorn bush replied, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the thorn bush and burn down the cedars of Lebanon!’

There is the obvious lesson that we can learn, that we should not deal falsely with others and conspire against our neighbors, because the consequences will come back to haunt us. But I think we can learn another lesson altogether from this enchanting parable.

Let’s look at what each tree had to offer, which ultimately kept them from wanting to be king over the trees. The olive tree produced oil to bring honor to God and humanity. The fig tree produced sweetness and good fruit, which would have been used to sustain humanity. The grapevine provided wine to bring cheer to God and humanity. 

They found their fulfillment in how God had created them, and had no interest in changing their course from what they were doing to merely to have power over all the trees. Just that? Just have power and sway over all the trees? It seems like something that would be a no brainer for most people, er, I mean, trees. ‘You’re offering me a promotion? Why, yes of course, I accept,’ is the typical answer. But the trees didn’t see it as a promotion, they just saw it as something that would require them to give up where their hearts truly lie, and what gave them the greatest joy and purpose. 

But it wasn’t just what they did that gave them the fulfillment. It was why they did it. The olive tree provided honor, the fig tree provided sustenance, and the grapevine provided cheer. They found fulfillment in giving a contribution to those around them, whom they served. What they did, was actually quite irrelevant. The olive tree happened to make olives, but it was his mission of bringing honor to God and humanity that gave him gratification and purpose. The olive tree could have made gold to make medallions for men and golden lamp stands for the tabernacle. Or he could have made paper from his leaves with which to make scrolls with the Word of God on them, telling of God’s great deeds and how mankind walked out God’s will. What he did was of little matter, the point, and his mission, was that he bring honor to God and humanity. The same goes for the fig tree and the grapevine. They didn’t just delight in making figs and grapes – they delighted in what it gave to those around them. 

With their great sense of mission and purpose, it was therefore, quite easy for them to say no to having kingship over the trees. They knew that if they became king over all the trees, just to hold sway over them, they would have to give up what brought them the most joy and fulfillment. They just knew it didn’t fit with who they were and what they could offer to those they desired to serve most – God and humanity. Which, that is the point of it all, right? To love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself? (Matthew 22:37-39) That is ultimately what will bring us the greatest fulfillment in life, when we can bring our talents and gifts to brighten and better the lives of those around us. Why would the trees want to give up the life-giving relationships they had already cultivated with God and humanity, to force them to serve them, and in the process dishonor God’s will? If they were to seek something that didn’t fit with how God had made them, the world would miss out on what they had to offer. When you pursue things that don’t fit with how God made you, and the talents He already instilled in you, we, the world, miss out on the true greatness you have to offer.

What we do is of little significance. Whether we stay and home and tend children, write blogs, work 10 hours a day in a cubicle, fold shirts for the 53rd time that day in a retail store. It is why and how we do it that matters. We’re all a part of something so much bigger than just what we do. So let’s live life on purpose – both purposefully and for the right reasons. Why we do the things we do, and how we do them is what matters. That is what brings us fulfillment. It’s what betters the lives around us that we touch every day. And it brings us into closer relationship with God. He doesn’t want empty actions from us, He wants our hearts. After all, God looks at the heart, and not our outward appearance or actions (1 Samuel 16:7).

For the longest time, I was so hung up on what I did. Thinking that what I did was my actual purpose. But it just isn’t. It is our heart attitude and why and how we do what we do that is our true purpose and calling. I haven’t mastered the knowledge yet of separating what I do from what I interpret as my purpose. But I’ve been meditating on this parable to remind myself. And as soon as I start switching my mindset to the how and why, instead of the what, I immediately start finding more fulfillment and gratification in my life. I pray the same for you, friend. I pray you will take time to not focus on your what being your purpose, but the how and why you do it. We need you. The world needs you. I don’t want to miss out on the greatness you have for God and humanity.

Until next time, 

Just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror of God’s Word, and hoping you will do the same.

Scripture quotations taken from the Complete Jewish Bible,Copyright © 1998 and 2016 by David H. SternUsed by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.