"...They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season."
-Psalm 1:3 (NLT)
Notice how this tree bears fruit each season. It is continuously cultivated and given care so that it may bear fruit each season. If this tree is to bear fruit each season, it needs to be cared for every year.
Secondly, notice where the trees are planted. The placement of the trees are crucial in order for growth to occur. If placed by a riverbank, trees will grow because the stream produces fertile ground. If placed in a desert, surely there will be no growth because the placement is not right.
As Christians, we need to continuously push ourselves toward spiritual excellence. Every season of our lives needs to be cultivated, prepared, and set up for success. In order to be successful as servants of the Lord, we need to prepare ourselves daily. Furthermore, our placement in the world is contingent on how we train
ourselves up as godly men and women. If we place ourselves around wicked behavior, we will prevent positive growth from the spiritual standpoint.
The good news is that, when you place yourself in the midst of spiritual encouragement and continue cultivating your "tree," incredible results show:
"Their leaves will never whither, and they prosper in all they do."
-Psalm 1:3 (NLT)
Like a farmer planting his seeds in the right place, he reward is healthy growth and development. His plantation prospers and there is clear evidence of his hard work. There is actually a story of a farmer sowing seed. It is found in the Gospel of Mark:
"...As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”
-Mark 4:3-8 (NIV)
Notice where the farmer places the seeds. In the end, where he produces the seeds determines whether there is growth or there is not. Some seeds were choked, while others were thrown on good soil. The end result for the latter? They "came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times." When the farmer placed the seeds in the right spot, good things resulted. When you place yourself in good spots, good things will sprout from your life. You prepare and set up yourself for a lifestyle that honors and pleases God. It will "never whither" and will "prosper" in every way.
Do you put yourself around positive role models and good spiritual influences? Furthermore, are you preparing yourself to live the lifestyle you are called to? Like a tree, spiritual growth takes work, preparation, and the right location to develop. Are you doing what needs to be done to create it?