“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? ⁸And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:” Lk. 13:7-8

For three years the keeper of the vineyard was watching for that fig tree to bear fruit. He was asking the lord of the vineyard to give him another year to work it to see if it would bear fruit. The hard-nosed religious keeper would have never given the tree three years. The carnal keeper would have cared less if there was any fruit. The doubtful keeper would not have expected any fruit and the greedy keeper would only want fruit to fill his own needs and desires. The keeper that is full of grace and truth is patient, he is willing to give more time, yet he does expect to soon receive a harvest of fruit. Are you full of grace and truth when you deal with your brethren?