Where Does Your Tree Lie?
“If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.” (Ecclesiastes 11:3)
There are many lessons gained from understanding this statement from Solomon’s report of life’s experiments; the most obvious being that once something is done, it cannot be undone! Therefore, once done, what will you do with the deed? Several areas of application come to mind. For example, Colossians 3:17: are your words and deeds in accordance with the authority of Christ, and if not, what can you do to change them once spoken or completed? Another area is service for God. If spoken in accordance with the authority of Christ, then you’ve no worries, but if not, how do you change them? While we accept the responsibility of repentance from wrongful words and deeds as being commanded (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3; 5; et al), what can we do about the damage done to the victim/recipient of wrongful words and deeds? Too often, we ignore this soul, focusing only on our own quilt and how we might rid ourselves of that sin and please God. But what of the victim?
Solomon offers much wisdom regarding the “other soul” in such matters. For example, consider Proverbs 18:24: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” If we are unfriendly and use hate towards others, how can the victim/recipient of our “less-than-friendly” approach be inclined toward God and His truth? Even our feeble attempts at justifying our conduct with, “They deserve it,” are not within the authority of Christ (see Matthew 5:44 – 45; Luke 6:27 – 36). Therefore, the children’s song comes to mind, “There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love; Watch your eyes, your ears, your lips, your hands, your feet!” It’s the adults that need to learn that song!
Dear reader, our lives as Christians are magnified in ways we might not realize! Don’t think for a minute the world doesn’t know we are supposed to be different, as they look for opportunities to greet us with their assessment of our hypocrisy! We must never allow them such an opportunity! We must remember, “In the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.” Once our word or deed is wrongly surrendered, the soul on whom it is inflicted will not soon forget! And if there are witnesses to this conduct, especially those of the world, their remembrance is often longer and less forgiving! We cannot “re-stand the tree” and apologies may require much more than our sincere words.
Solomon makes this appeal: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11) The apostle Paul concurs by saying, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6) We Christians must remember our words and deeds come from our hearts (Matthew 12:34). If our hearts are evil, then we’ve got a deeper problem than our words and deeds and we are the only ones who can fix that problem! If not fixed before we speak or act, then we inflict often irreparable harm upon the victims of our actions, regardless of their so-called “worthiness” of the same! Ours is a mission of saving souls, not pushing them from the goodness of God! Think about where that tree will land before we cut it!
James tells us, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (1:19) How much improved this world would be if all would observe this commandment! But instead, too many seek their own wealth (benefits) and not another’s (1 Corinthians 10:24). We cannot save our own souls unless we diligently endeavor to save others as well. Granted, we are accountable for our own deeds (2 Corinthians 5:10), yet “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost,” (2 Corinthians 4:3). Often, we preach more through our actions than our words, but either way, others see us: and once the tree falls, there shall it be!
Do a word study on the word “regret” and it might surprise you what you find! Do another study on the effectiveness of our words and deeds upon others and you’ll be even more impressed! That’s why as Christians, we are indeed different from the world. We talk differently, and we act differently because we are different: we’re children of GOD and not children of the devil! We gave up the sinful life (Romans 6) to serve righteousness. We can’t mix the two without being hypocritical. It is essential to remember Christ lives in us (Galatians 2:20) and not the old man whose words and deeds cared nothing for anyone but himself! Remember, where the tree falls, that’s where it shall lie!