TREE TRUTHS (Psalm 1:3)

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (NIV)

What are you afraid of? There have been several “Top Ten Fears” lists floating around the last few years. I was surprised to note that fear of failure wasn’t in the top ten. Yet, I’m sure it’s not only one of the more universally shared fears, but is also one of the most debilitating. Think about it for a minute. If you could do anything…ANYTHING…with no fear of failure, wouldn’t that change your life? Wouldn’t that be freeing? In verse three the godly are described as a tree that is free of failure; it produces fruit and doesn’t dry up. As a matter of fact, the psalmist goes on to tell us that “whatever he does prospers.” Doesn’t sound like failure to me. Right away our “but…” thinking kicks in to refute God’s promises to us. But… that sounds like the questionable prosperity gospel where believers are told to “name it and claim it” and everyone has a Cadillac and a mansion on the hill. But… prosperity only comes if you’re “planted by streams of water” and most of the time I feel far from God, not planted next to him. First, the prosperity God promises us isn’t limited to financial success. Psalm One is about being blessed and God’s blessings come in many sizes, shapes and forms. Secondly, the phrase translated “streams of water” means man-made watering canals specifically constructed for irrigation. These are located where they are FOR the trees; the trees don’t have to go looking for them. They’re already at their source of nourishment. We’re promised that we will: bear fruit, not wither, prosper whatever we do and are even planted right on the riverbank to guarantee our success.

So… What are you afraid of?