Proverbs 11:3-4 

³ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. ⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

Plant a Tree

            What do you think? Is it appropriate to plant maple trees on TMEC yard?  Maple trees complement the name: The Maples Evangelical Church, right?

You may have transplanted a tree somehow. Transplanted trees adjust and recover faster when soil around its roots is included. Transplanting trees without soil attached to its roots has lesser success of growth. It is much better to include soil around its roots when transplanting trees, especially established huge trees.

The ground is very essential to the stability of trees. It helps trees to resist natural calamities. The more fertile the ground can be, the more nutrients trees can get for nourishment. However, the establishment of the integrity of the tree depends on its roots. Roots take water and nutrient from the ground that the tree needs, which means, healthy roots helps the tree to be healthy overall.

Biblically, we are advised in Colossians 2:6-7: ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

            Like transplanted tree, we have to grow spiritual roots in Christ. Stronger relationship with Christ helps stabilize our spiritual integrity as children of God.

Stronger faith in Christ helps us grow in righteous integrity to resist temptations.

            In contrast, when relationship with Christ is weak, spiritual integrity can be shaken. Strong faith in Christ is compared to strong roots of trees. During storms, trees with strong roots survive and not easily destroyed. What do you think?

1.  Destroy

³ The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

            The English term “integrity” is normally interpreted in relation to honesty, but the original context of the term “integrity” includes completed, finished or blameless also.Integrity guides the upright to complete and finish his task with no blame game or guilty feeling at all. In contrast, duplicity or dishonesty destroys the unfaithful, treacherous, deceitful individuals or groups, who can’t be trusted.

            People, who practise deception, disregard devastating consequences that awaits them. Why? Only by faith in God, we respond pro-actively to his warnings.

Life in this world can cause worry, but the Lord commanded, “Don’t worry!”

So what can we do for us not to worry so much about our life or about the future?

            We pray that the Lord would shelter us from worries. By faith, we trust that the Lord would shield us from worries that may attack us. Let’s reflect on what it says in Psalm 7:10, ¹⁰My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.

God Most High

            King David had personally proven that when he kept himself upright before the Lord, God Most High shielded and protected him even from worst enemies. When David defeated the fearsome giant Goliath, he was graciously appreciated by the Israelites. Together, let’s meditate of what it narrated in 1 Samuel 18:6-11:

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David. ¹⁰ The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

            King Saul was envious that the Israelites women sang a song that credited more victories to David. King Saul thought that David will take over the kingdom. Did the Lord allow King Saul to think that way as revelation of David’s kingship?

            Do you accept that the Lord was also testing the faith of David? When he eluded it twice when King Saul threw spear at him, David practically proved that the Lord took care of the safety of the righteous. But who can deliver the wicked?

2. Deliver

⁴ Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

            The day of wrath pertains to the anger of God against wickedness. When it says that wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, is God against financial status?

While it could be common for humanity to favor financial status, the Lord favors the righteous. What can wealth do when God is angry? What can we do?

Actually, it prophesied in Ezekiel 7:19, ¹⁹They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, for it has caused them to stumble into sin.

            Likewise, the Scripture teaches also that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. So, how should we warn ordinary listener about the love of money?

            Certainly, the Lord knows that we need money, gold and silver for practical use. And, if the Lord is our priority, we should not worry about finances. Together, Let us reflect on Matthew 6:28-30, ²⁸And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

            Christ commanded us to not worry; most often, we worry. There is worry about finances or anything because of little faith. We must pray for increase of faith and grow stronger spiritually. Sometimes, expectation of negative comments about social status forces us to worry. But when faith in Christ becomes stronger, bothersome expectation about social comments is redirected; we would rather hope of the reward that the Lord prepared for godly righteousness.

            Parents: Are you worried about the spiritual life of your children? Listen!

George Müller

            One of the great names in Christianity is George Müller. George Müller is well known for his work in the orphanage without soliciting help from individuals or groups. He relied upon the Lord to provide for his needs and the orphanage.

            Accordingly, the early life of George Müller was not very pleasant; he was a thief, a liar, a gambler and drunkard. Müller testified that despite his wicked behavior and unrepentant spirit, God had mercy on him; God transformed him.

            Certainly, the parents of George Müller were concerned of his spiritual life.

Similarly, many parents could be worried about spiritual life of their children. And just as God had transformed George Müller into one of the greatest Christians in history, we should not worry about our children; instead, we seriously pray that the Lord will transform our children into devoted Christians like George Müller.

><((‘> .. ><((‘> … ><(((“> tmec\2023 <“)))>< … <‘))>< .. <‘))><