| The Christian Life | February 1944 |
Trees of Righteousness
“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”—Psalm 1:3
IN THE pictorial language of the Bible, God uses an olive tree to represent fleshly Israel as a group, or body of people. It is this illustration that Paul employs in Romans 11, where he shows that the natural descendants of Abraham, as the seed of promise, are broken off as branches from this tree, and Gentile branches are ingrafted to take their places. In our text, however, a tree is used to represent individual servants of God rather than a group. As individuals who have entered into the divine service, we must all be trees of righteousness.
The significance of the illustration is enhanced by the explanation that the tree is planted by rivers of water. Rivers, in the plural, suggest two streams serving to irrigate the tree planted between them. The ancient Israelites were well acquainted with arid and parched ground, hence the illustration of a tree planted between rivers of water is a very meaningful illustration of the wondrous way in which God supplies the needs of His faithful people. A tree thus planted would surely be provided with plenty of life-giving waters.
There is meaning also in the fact that the tree is “planted.” It is not a wild tree of the fields, but one planted and cared for. Thus we are reminded that the people of God are such by divine providence and planning. While it is our privilege to cooperate with the Lord in connection with our becoming His people, yet the Scriptures make it plain that He is the One who is responsible for the planting.—Isaiah 61:3
One of the lessons taught by the tree illustration is referred to by Paul in Colossians 2:6,7, where he speaks of those who are walking in the footsteps of Jesus as being “rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith.” As the roots of a tree push themselves downward and absorb the nutriment of the soil, so a Christian takes hold of the great and precious promises of the Word of God, and thereby is nourished and strengthened to withstand the storms of opposition that beat against him. The roots of faith push down deep into the knowledge of the divine plan, while the tree of character grows higher and higher, developing and maturing the rich fruits of the Holy Spirit of God.
Thus seen, the roots of a tree have two functions; namely, that of taking hold of the ground to support the tree, and serving to absorb the moisture and mineral elements of the ground for the growth of the tree. It is our faith that takes hold of the “ground,” that is, the exceeding precious promises of God which strengthen and nourish us as new creatures. If our faith is small, we will be easily uprooted, and will fail to absorb from the Word of God the necessary nourishment for a healthy growth in grace. Our standing in the Lord, therefore, and our ability to cope with the difficulties of the Christian life, depend upon the measure of our faith. “According to your faith be it unto you,” the Scriptures say, and again, “this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”—Matthew 9:29; I John 5:4
Well Rooted and Sturdy
While the Christian is growing in character-likeness t o our Lord, his roots of faith should ever be reaching deeper into the Word of God. If this be true, then he is becoming established, settled. A tree that is well rooted in the earth is sturdy, unyielding to the winds and storms. So it is with the Christian whose faith has been properly established. He should be so fixed, so established in the promises of God’s Word that no wind of doctrine can overthrow his faith. It is no evidence of Christian virtue to be continually looking around for something new. Such an attitude demonstrates a lack of that necessary faith by which a Christian is rooted and grounded in Christ.
Having once made sure that the divine plan is indeed God’s plan, we should not permit our selves to be moved away from that position. A tree whose roots are not firmly fixed in the earth cannot properly grow. Such a tree is sure to lack in vigor and growth. So with Christians, there can be no healthy Christian growth, nor can there be vigorous spiritual life unless the soul becomes fixed and settled in the truth, as it is in Christ Jesus.
No child of God can safely permit himself to be carried about by every wind of doctrine. It is also unwise to indulge in a morbid curiosity as to what this or that new theory may teach. For one who has never known the truth there might be some justifiable reason for such a course, and, indeed, until the truth is found one cannot but be on the lookout for that which satisfies our longings as nothing else can do. But for one who, has found the truth and has thoroughly proved it to be such, to go hunting around for new pastures in which to feed, is unwise. To have a desire to follow such a course indicates either that one has never been truly established in Christ, or else has fallen into a spiritual decline. In the plan of God itself there is an exhaustless field both for mental and spiritual activity, so there would seem to be no need to seek for an enlarged sphere of thought.
Sunshine and Rain
As a tree does not breathe the same elements at all times, and as it is not always flooded with sunshine, but needs also the rains and storms for its development, so the child of God needs varied experiences and sometimes change of environment to best develop all the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Our Heavenly Father, the Great Husbandman, knows just what experiences each one of His “trees” needs in order properly to grow in stature and strength. The amount of sunshine and the amount of rain are governed by Him who supplies all of our needs. In His wisdom He knows how to vary the conditions and environment of each tree without disturbing the process of rooting and upbuilding, but strengthening our position with each experience.
How thankful we should be for the assurance of such wise and loving care! If we attempted to choose for ourselves the things most needed for our spiritual growth, we would be almost certain to choose that which would bring spiritual disaster. How important it is, then, that we humbly and continually submit ourselves to the care of the skillful Husbandman, earnestly cooperating with Him, that we may grow and become strong and immovable—firmly established.—I Corinthians 15:58
The vigorous growth of a tree, together with the amount of fruitage it bears, is a good indication of the depth and spread of its roots. A tree that is not deeply and firmly grounded cannot bring forth rich, luscious fruit, nor is such a tree able to furnish coal, refreshing shade for man. So the Christian’s faith must be deeply grounded in Christ if he is to hear the fruit of the Spirit. The rooting process in the Christian life, as in a literal tree, is unseen, and can be judged only by outward manifestations. If we are truly rooted and grounded in the truth, that fact will manifest itself more and more by our growing likeness to the image of Christ, who is our pattern and inspiration.
An Established Christian Not a Bigot
It is a mistaken notion sometimes expressed by those not too well acquainted with the Word of God, that to be established in faith and doctrine is to be a bigot. To be superstitiously established in error not based upon the teachings of God’s Word, would, indeed, be bigotry, but this is not true of those who, having studied the truth and made it their own, tenaciously hold to it because they know it to be firmly founded upon the Word of God. We are now living in a day of trial when every man’s faith and character structure is being tested as to what sort it is. Only those rooted and grounded in the pure truth of God’s Word will be able to stand this test.
A healthy and sturdy tree, in addition to its trunk and main branches, has leaves and bears fruitage. “Trees of righteousness,” in addition to possessing strength and fortitude, also bear leaves of profession, and the fruit of the Spirit. If our faith (the roots) is deeply imbedded in the Word of God, we will not only be unyielding against Satan’s attacks through winds of false doctrine, but our professions of faith will be known to those with whom we come in contact, and they should be able to note the fruit of the Spirit displayed in our daily lives.
The Apostle Peter says, “Add to your faith virtue.” (II Peter 1:5) The word here translated virtue properly means fortitude. This would seem to suggest that fortitude is the first visible manifestation of the fact that the roots of faith are taking hold of the Word of God. Fortitude, or strength of character, might therefore be well represented by the trunk of the tree. Virtue, or fortitude, not only enables us to give the truth to others, but also to mold our own lives into the image of Christ, in spite of opposition.
To start with, of course, we are, as new creatures, only young plants, as it were. Like the young plants not yet fully grown and able to withstand the winds and storms, we are prone to sway backward and forward in the face of adversity. Trials, which to the sturdy Christian seem light, to one less developed appear to be grievous, but God tempers the storm for beginners as well as for those more mature; and we have the assurance that as long as our faith is resting in Him, He will help us to bear whatever may come of joy or sorrow.
Knowledge
Peter suggests knowledge as next in order, and following virtue. One of the wholesome results of opposition to the truth as we proclaim it, and to our endeavors to walk the narrow way of righteousness, is that of sending us back again and again to the Word of God to find a reason for the hope that is in us. When we try to explain the truth to others, we often find that there are questions put to us which are difficult to answer. This leads us to a more earnest study, sending us to the rivers of truth to refresh our memories as well as to satisfy our hearts.
The branches of the tree may well represent this outgrowth of knowledge which should, and will be the result of a strong faith and resolute fortitude. As trees of righteousness, therefore, we should seek to be well rounded out in the knowledge of the truth. This means that we should not become specialists along any one line of knowledge, but seek to attain and be profited by all that the Word of God has for us.
With some, the natural tendency may be to study principally the chronological phases of God’s plan. Another may find his likings gratified chiefly in the study of the symbolisms of Revelation. Still another may specialize in trying to unlock all the prophecies of the Bible, And then again, those more devotionally inclined, may give most of their efforts to searching out all that the Bible says concerning prayer. Others, who by nature find it most to their liking to be active in the promulgation of the truth, may spend their available study periods in finding Scriptures to justify the things which they prefer to do.
But just as a natural tree would look odd, and indeed would be far from pleasing to the sight if it contained only one branch protruding in one or another direction, so the Christian whose growth in knowledge is merely along one line, or principally so, can be neither pleasing to the Lord, nor of great spiritual help to his brethren. As a one-branched tree seems out of place in a grove of well developed trees, so does the Christian who makes a hobby of some one thing in God’s Word appear in a congregation of well developed trees of righteousness.
All our study of God’s Word should be with the objective of attaining a knowledge of God and of His will concerning us. Inasmuch as the Heavenly Father has provided us with all that the Bible contains, we should seek to develop our branches of knowledge along all the lines that we find in that precious Word.
Fruit
If a tree had no branches, it could bear no fruit. This is true also with respect to trees of righteousness. How could we bear the fruit of the Spirit of truth if we had no knowledge of God revealed to us through His glorious plan of salvation? But while knowledge (the branches) is important, we must remember that no tree grows just for the purpose of producing branches alone. The branches of a tree are for the bearing of fruit, so the objective of Christian knowledge is the bearing of the fruit of the Spirit. If the sole object of our study of God’s Word is to show ourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not to be ashamed, then the result of our study will be manifested in the growth of the fruit of love.
However, with most trees, the leaves appear before there is any fruit to be seen. So with us as trees of righteousness, it is proper that our professions of faith and knowledge should be indicated from the very time that we begin to learn that the Lord is gracious. If they are sincere and from the heart, it will not be long before a more substantial evidence of a knowledge of God in our hearts becomes manifested; namely, in the fruitage of Christian character.
What a beautiful illustration of Christian character we thus have in a well developed tree laden with luscious fruit! How well it illustrates the life of the man of God, full of faith, and courageous in the doing of God’s will. Such an one is not afraid to testify about Christ, as illustrated by the leaves of profession, nor does he hide the fact that he is molding his life to conform to the image of Christ. In such a character there is to be found a well rounded out knowledge of the Bible, a knowledge, moreover, that bears fruit in the everyday life.
In a healthy Christian life, even as in the case of a sturdy tree, there is real strength, as illustrated by the trunk. If our knowledge of God’s Word is no more than merely something to talk about—no more than merely profession, as illustrated by the leaves—then we are sure to be unstable, fluttering about with every new idea that comes along.
But no matter how deep-rooted a tree may be in the good soil from which it grows; no matter how sturdy its trunk; irrespective of the health and number of its branches, and the beauty of its leaves; its existence is in vain unless it bear fruit. So with trees of righteousness, we may have a strong faith, a fortitude to resist opposition, a well rounded out knowledge of the divine plan, and be eloquent in our professions of the truth, yet if we have not love, our Christianity is in vain. Fruit trees are grown for their fruit, not for their foliage. If we are, indeed, trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, we have been planted by Him in order that His love may be made known to, and bless others, through us. The fruit of love, unlike the leaves of profession, is the actual development of Godlikeness in our lives. It is that quality of Christian character which ennobles, and renders truly helpful all that we do for others, and that, also, which truly glorifies God because it is His likeness operating in our lives. Love must be the motive which prompts all that we say and do, else God will not be pleased with us as trees of righteousness. Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.”—I Corinthians 13:1-3
As the fruit of a natural tree does not appear full-sized and ripened all at once, so the fruitage of love in the Christian life is a matter of gradual growth and final ripening. In the case of natural fruit, there is first the bud, then the flower, followed by the small unripened fruit, and finally the mature, luscious product of the tree. So with Christian love, there is a development. There is, at first, what might be styled a duty love for God—we love Him because He first loved us. Following this, there is a love for that which He loves—for example, our love of the brethren. How beautiful indeed is brotherly love; but our love for the brethren, our willingness to make sacrifices on their behalf, may be partly because they also love us. True, Godlike love is that great principle of unselfish interest in others which prompts us to lay down our lives for them, irrespective of what the result may be to ourselves.
The genuine, fully ripened fruit of the Spirit is the same quality of love which our Heavenly Father possesses. This, indeed, is a love for the brethren, a love for righteousness, a love for all that is in harmony with God, but it is even more than that. Divine love was of a quality which displayed interest in us while we were yet sinners—a love that went out to the entire estranged world of mankind, a race alienated from God through wicked works. Yes, while we were yet sinners, God manifested His love toward us through the gift of His beloved Son to be our Redeemer.
As trees of righteousness, we have not borne the rich, fully ripened fruit of love until we, too, can love our enemies—until we, too, are willing to make sacrifices in order to reach and bless those who, through their ignorance, may be displaying their animosity toward us.
Simultaneous Growth
In comparing trees of righteousness with literal trees, we are to remember that the roots, trunk, branches, leaves, and oftentimes the fruit, develop more or less simultaneously. That is to say, the roots of’ a tree do not become fully developed, pushing down deeply and laying hold firmly upon the earth, before there is any evidence of the trunk. A short root is followed quickly by a small slender trunk, which shoots out its spindling branches bearing their tender leaves. With some varieties of fruit trees, fruit appears while they are yet very young. The parallelism of this should be true in the Christian life. If, as trees of righteousness, we develop as we should, the whole tree, including roots, will develop at the same time. Thus we should not find ourselves in the position of having a strong faith, but no love, of making great outward professions, yet lacking stability of character.
We should remember, too, that as we grow and produce fruit, the Great Husbandman, in addition to permitting the winds of opposition and storms of persecution to test and strengthen the fiber of our characters, will prune us. If we show a tendency to shoot out branches of human knowledge on which may develop the fruitage of selfishness, God, in His love, and in His own wise way, may clip those branches, thus demonstrating to us the folly of our ways.
Above all, then, let us remember that if we are truly trees of righteousness we are in the Lord’s hands. Not only was it through His gracious providence that we became “trees,” but only by His loving provision and tender care, may we continue to grow and bear fruit. The Psalmist declares that God’s trees of righteousness prosper in His hands. This is a spiritual prosperity due to the blessing of the Lord—a prosperity that manifests itself in the rich fruitage of love, without which no effort of the Christian can profit anything. Let us, then, continue to look to the Lord, and seek His blessings and guidance and care in all that we say and do, that, as trees of righteousness, we may, indeed, be a glory to, the name of our Great Husbandman.