“Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord… 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 1:1-3 [KJV]
My favourite place to think and pray is under some tall gum trees near a creek. The creek is currently a couple of fast-disappearing stagnant pools, and the grass is disintegrating into brown straw. But the gum trees will remain green all summer long, their long roots drinking from underground water.
As I looked at those gums, I thought of Psalm 1, which likens a godly person to “a tree planted by the rivers of water.” Those giant gums have endured many decades of drought, flood, heat, cold, wind and bush fires. Some bear the scars of broken limbs, but they are still living and flourishing.
How do we handle changes? My workplace has just been through a major restructure, and only one quarter of the original team remain. I thank the Lord I have a job still, but those first weeks without my experienced work colleagues were challenging.
How do we handle the lack of change? Chronic health issues, ongoing uncertainties and continued strained relationships? Whatever our circumstances, we Christians are told “…be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,” (1 Corinthians 15:58a). I asked a friend recently how she was going: “Surviving,” she replied. How do we not just survive, but flourish?
Psalm 1 has some practical advice. Firstly, it tells us what to not do. Don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, don’t stand with sinners and don’t sit with the scornful. One commentator described these three groups as a sequence. People start by doing things that are not God’s will, then progress to blatant sin, then openly mock the things of God.
We need to recognise this behaviour in others and take steps to not be wrongly influenced. This action has many facets, and you will need to prayerfully consider whether those you interact with are those God would want you to spend time with. Sometimes, however, people’s influences are more subtle.
I am a keen book reader and writer, but here is one common trope I hate seeing: the one where a girl uses deceit and trickery to win a guy. No and no. Sin has consequences. No healthy relationship can be founded on lies and lust. Regardless of the source, if they promote unbiblical relationships, reject their advice. Get rid of the book and tell that person (politely) that you disagree with their approach to relationships.
Then there is the scorner. Perhaps they are a physical acquaintance. Perhaps they are an online comedian. I enjoy well-placed humour, but today I unsubscribed from a so-called Christian comedian. Why? Because he changed from clean humour to trivialising sin and making fun of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The ungodly, the sinner and the scornful make us susceptible to doubts and fears. The secret to being a tree is found in Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Just as the tree’s roots tap into underground water, the righteous person is rooted in the Word of God.
We need to read the Bible. Every day. (Did I see an eye roll? A heard-that-one-before? Seriously, Bible reading is essential.) The Bible keeps us on path (Psalm 119:9), and enables us to identify unbiblical advice or actions. Most of us know reading the Bible is crucial, but we find consistency a challenge. I find Bible reading plans helpful. Perhaps your church gives them out at the start of the year: otherwise, there are dozens online, that allocate several chapters to read a day, enabling you to finish the whole Bible in one or two years. Keep going, even if you get behind. I am usually behind until December 31st. The Bible is spiritual food, and even a few verses or chapters a day will help you grow (1 Peter 2:2).
Try to read some verses each morning. I have chronic migraines, so I typically wake with nausea and an intense headache. For a couple of years, my focus was getting out of bed and out of the house, and the bus ride to work became my Bible reading time. Now, I set my alarm half-an-hour earlier than I used to. This gives extra time for the headache to dull slightly, then to read my Bible. I also use an audio Bible for Old Testament readings. If my eyes are too sore to read, or I am gardening, or driving somewhere, I can listen to the word of God.
I need the Bible. So do you. Get it in there, and drink deeply from it. Then, when hot winds scorch our leaves, or insidious bugs try to eat away our faith, we can stand strong, deeply rooted in the Word of God (Psalm 1:1-3).
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