A Tree Planted ...

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:8 (KJV)

If you've seen the new business card I just designed, it has a simple drawing of a tree on it. (see my web site for the logo.) For the most part, I simply put a tree there... because I like trees! I didn't have any deep underlying meaning or psychological reasons. I drew a tree, and there it was. My brother (the Graphic Artist and ArtGeek) figured out how to digitize it and make it into a business card.

As often happens though, on further reflection, I decided that there was something meaningful about the image of a tree. In both Jeremiah 17 and in Psalms 1, the image of a "tree planted by the waters" comes up as a picture of those who put their faith and trust in the Lord. When the hard times come (drought), the deep roots sunk into the ground along the stream continue to refresh the tree, and it does not wither.

I'm not usually a big fan of the KJV, but in this verse, there is one word that really hit me. Many translations use something like, "It will not be anxious during droughts." However, in the KJV and several other translations, it uses the term careful.

What jumped out at me is the picture of someone who, during a time of drought or famine, is very careful about how they live or spend their money, or careful to store up food for hard times, to hide it from others so they don't take it away. To be careful is the opposite of being extravagant, or even generous. You are always calculating, figuring, measuring, thinking about what you won't be able to get in the future.

In contrast is the one who puts his trust in the Lord (or in Psalms, the one whos "delight is in the law (or word) of the Lord"). When the hard times come, and they always do, that man or woman will not lose the green in their leaves. The tree may still be "stressed", but it will continue to bear fruit. In terms of energy, bearing fruit is a very extravagant process in plants, but it is necessary for the continued life and reproduction of the plant. In the bigger scheme of things, bearing fruit is necessary for the survival of the entire ecosystem, just as in the Church, being fruitful is the secret of continued ministry and growth. If we do not bear fruit, we will not grow.

Lord, I want to not be careful in the time of drought!