STAY IN THE LANE

STAY IN THE LANE

When we drove from Sonoma to the Oakland Airport, Jane and I would always remind each other: “Stay in the lane!” If we got into the wrong lane it would take us around in circles for quite a while until we could get back to the right direction. It works that way in our spiritual lives as well. When we find what the jobs are that God has ordained for us to do, we need to stick to them.  

Romans 12:6-7 tells us: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching.” [etc.]

When I was just up at my mom’s house last week, we read a great story in Judges 9, where God tells the same message, but He uses different plants and trees to illustrate His point.

“The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, ‘Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?’” (vv.8-9)

The olive tree produced olives for food and commerce. Olive oil was also used in commerce, as well as being a chief element in food, soap, religious festivals, and providing the main fuel for light. The olive tree was a symbol of peace, prosperity and wealth. In this story from Judges 9, the olive tree tells us it already has a great job for God and man, and it didn’t have any interest at all in being a boss over all the trees. The olive tree was wise enough to tell the trees it would rather just stay in its lane.

“And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come thou, and reign over us.’ But the fig tree said unto them, ‘Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?’” (vv.10-11).

The fig tree, like the olive, knew what its job was, and it was perfectly satisfied. It wanted nothing to do with supposed promotion.

“Then said the trees unto the vine, ‘Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?’” (vv.12-13).

The vine stayed in its lane like the olive and the fig. But then there was the bramble.

“Then said all the trees unto the bramble, ‘Come thou, and reign over us.’ And the bramble said unto the trees, ‘If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon’” (vv.14-15).

A bramble can have some good fruit, but it’s a plant that needs to be controlled. Its nature is to take over.

In this story from Judges, when the trees foolishly asked the bramble to be their king, they brought on their own demise. The bramble told them that if they wanted him to be king, all the trees would have to “put their trust in my shadow.” Everything the trees used to do would have to take second place to what the bramble wanted.

In nature, trees that grow close to bramble bushes can easily be taken over, strangled, and killed. They no longer get the sunshine they need. Also, if the rambling bramble catches fire, many trees, as well as the bramble itself, will burn. However, the bramble sends roots out way beyond the trees, and in quick time it will be back to cover the small new trees that try to grow.

Some trees don’t put out fruit for many years. I planted a Crepe myrtle and it didn’t have any flowers until about the 15^th year, and now it has lots every year. Not every person finds out at an early age what they do best for God. Some of us need to try several roads before we find our clear path.

But along your way beware of the bramble. Don’t let anyone take you over and smother who you are. Don’t let others tell you how to think or how to act if it doesn’t feel right to your insides. The olive tree may not be tall or straight, but it knows what it is, and it’s proud.

Love, Carolyn