The Lord has set His pruning principles in creation, so we can learn from them. The pruning in vegetation is a reassurance to help His children not to become discouraged or disillusioned when pruning occurs. A pruned plant/tree does not stay pruned forever, and as soon as the season changes the new growth reappears.
In my research, I found that there were several benefits for pruning trees. First, pruning makes trees healthy because it allows their root to grow stronger. The stronger root system allows the trees to hold up to the storms better. Spiritually speaking, when we go through pruning, we have a tendency to get closer to the Lord. We don’t have all the busyness or the distractions around us to keep us from being focused on the Lord. In addition, we find ourselves in greater need of Him, and we have a greater degree of desperation to gain His comfort and His reassurance in the pruning season.
This shall be a sign to you:
‘You shall eat this year such as grows of itself,
And in the second year what springs from the same;
Also in the third year sow and reap,
Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.
And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah
Shall again take root downward,
And bear fruit upward.
For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant,
And those who escape from Mount Zion.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.’ 2 Kings 19:29-31
The Lord did not give up on His people, and even when there was only a remnant of them left. He would still allow them to grow strong and bear fruit. He is not impressed with the outward beauty of a tree, and neither is He intimidated when there is only a stump left. God has the ability to resurrect life when we remain in His hands and allow Him to do His mighty works in our lives.
Second, trees can be pruned because parts of them are diseased.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—Mark 9:43
Jesus spoke very strongly against sin and anything that causes a person to fall into it. He told His disciples, that it is better for a person to enter the kingdom of God maimed rather than having two hands, two feet, or two eyes and not making it to heaven. Every part of the body is important to the person, but if it gets diseased physically or spiritually, it must be dealt with severely in order to ensure that the disease does not spread to the entire body.
Sometimes we hold on to things as a false protection or for “just in case” situations. However, if those things keep us from trusting God completely or cause us to develop hidden sin in our lives, they have to go. Since the Lord knows every thought of a man, there is nothing that goes unnoticed from Him, and He knows its impact in our lives.
Third, trees are pruned in order to increase greater fruitfulness.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2
Sometimes we begin by doing some good work, but over time we find ourselves very busy running from one thing to another thinking that it is still fruitful. At times, God leads us to cut off some of the things that are not fruitful, so we can dedicate more time to Him and to the things that do bear fruit.
When Jesus was at Mary and Martha’s house and was teaching people, Martha was busy in the kitchen (See Luke 10:38-42). While her work was valuable, at the moment, she wasn’t choosing the best way to spend her time. On the other hand, Mary decided that she wasn’t going to miss out on sitting at Jesus’ feet! The benefit of being fed spiritually was far more important to her than getting dinner ready on time.
We all make choices in our everyday lives as to where we spend our time and energy. Our choices may be fruitful for a season, but they don’t remain fruitful forever. If we are willing, the Lord will show us the things that sap our energy and attention but do not bear the fruit that they used to produce.
Is there pruning that is happening right now in your life? How are you responding to it?
The Link: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/6-reasons-why-you-should-prune-your-trees.htm