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.]
In Judges 9, God tells the
same message, but He uses 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 produces
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 the 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 15th 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 the way, beware
of the bramble. Don’t let anyone 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 spiritual self. We need
to grow into what God has called us and be willing to follow His way to being
our best. Let’s not be pushed around or swayed by others, but stay in the lane
with the Lord.
Love, Carolyn
Many of you have been reading my Preach letters for several years,
and now you have teenagers or grown children. If you think they would benefit
from my articles, or you have other friends you want me to send my preach
letters to, let me know, and I can put them on my email list or send by mail if
that works better. 😊
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