The Importance and Value of a Strong Foundation for Life
Photo by Natanael Vieira on Unsplash
Good roots
Natural disasters took center stage in our first year living in the Philippines as missionaries—a super typhoon, a major earthquake, a horrendous flood, and a volcano that disrupted travel and life for months.
Torrential rains and steamy hot weather greeted us upon our arrival in Manila, a major change from the arid, extreme heat of our southern California desert home. A few months after we settled into our new home in the central Philippines, a super typhoon hit our area. Not only was it unusual for our area, but it brought destructive devastation to many.
Throughout SE Asia, typhoon season brings similar scenes. Not only are trees uprooted, but many homes are also completely washed away by storm surges and flash floods. Though not unusual, it’s still devastating for families to lose homes, livelihoods, and even, for some, the lives of loved ones.
Every hurricane season, trees are uprooted, seashores are eroded, and homes get flooded. Such is life in the Caribbean, Florida, and all along the Gulf Coast.
Whether trees or homes or people’s lives, a solid foundation is vital for enduring powerful storms. Roots are the foundation of a plant or tree and provide a network for sustenance essential for life.
These two verses referring to the “roots of the righteous” speak of two outcomes—they “cannot be moved” and they “produce fruit.” Stability and life.
What’s the key to these “roots of the righteous?” Their roots are in solid ground and soil that’s nutrient rich with sufficient water.
This illustration is used to emphasize the value and importance of gaining and using wisdom in life and contrasted with the untrustworthy deception of wickedness and rejection of wisdom.
Scripture
A person cannot stand firm on a foundation of wickedness,
and the roots of righteous people cannot be moved.
...the roots of righteous people produce fruit.
One person enjoys good things as a result of his speaking ability.
Another is paid according to what his hands have accomplished. (Proverbs 12:3, 12, 14 GW)
(Context—Proverbs 12:1-14 GW)
Simple Insights
An immediate reference to the practicality of the truth of God and wisdom can be drawn from the larger context of Proverbs. And not only do strong roots provide stability, they are a source of fruit or productiveness.
We can see this in verse 14—
One person enjoys good things as a result of his speaking ability. Another is paid according to what his hands have accomplished.
Families and cultures can produce tremendous pressure on a person to conform to what's most likely to lead to a successful future. But many times, this comes at the cost of a person's identity and integrity—their internal essence—their spirit.
We’re all wired differently. We all have unique gifts and skills. A college education does not suit many people. They need more practical training for what they do best. And far too many university degrees never factor into a person’s life work.
Each of us needs to stay grounded in who we are as God created us to be.
Some people are good with words, both learning and teaching in an academic environment, or in other ways of expressing thoughts and ideas through words. Others are good with their hands and actions. They build or create things skillfully and are content with doing things well.
How can a person know for sure what they are best suited to do?
When each of us is well-grounded in our relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of our life—the One who knows us best—it’s much easier to know what He created us to do best.
The important thing is being rooted in a personal relationship with the Lord and living our life guided by His truth and wisdom.
Reflection—
If you want to know what your purpose in life is—what you were created to do well—then allow the roots of your life to grow deep in a well-grounded relationship with God.
Prayer Focus—
Pray for discernment and wisdom. Ask God to either clarify or give you fresh insight into what He's equipped you to do mentally and physically—according to what fits you best.
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