I. INTRODUCTION
A. The word of God wisely uses simple figures to teach important lessons. These figures of familiar persons, objects, and situations are useful in helping us to understand spiritual truth.
B. In Jeremiah 17:5-8, two trees are used as figures to teach us the different outcomes that result from trusting in man versus trusting in God. This passage will be the source of the present lesson.
II. THE CURSED TREE
A. Read Jeremiah 17:5-6:
Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the LORD. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when prosperity comes, but will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, a land of salt without inhabitant.”
B. Consider the hard existence of a bush that is planted in the desert.
1. The desert is a barren place where the climate does not change. While the rest of the land sees dry seasons and wet seasons, the desert is always dry, and prosperity never comes to it.
2. The "stony wastes in the wilderness” are places where growth is hard or impossible. Plants can find no depth of soil for their roots, and they quickly perish (compare to Matt. 13:5, 20-21).
3. A "land of salt” is poisoned so that nothing can grow in it. In ancient times, conquering armies would ruin their enemies’ lands by spreading salt in the soil.
C. The man who is distrusting and unbelieving of God in his heart is cursed, for he will be like that desert bush.
1. This man’s error is his misplaced trust in mankind and his failure to trust in God.
a. He "trusts in mankind,” which means that he looks to the wisdom of man for answers to every question and solutions to every problem. Today, this attitude is known as humanism, which is a philosophy that embraces human reason and experience as the only guides for human life.
b. He "makes flesh his strength,” which is patently foolish and hopeless because flesh cannot endure. Consider 1Peter 1:24-25 (quoted from Isaiah 40:6-8):
For, "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.
c. His "heart turns away from the LORD,” which means that he turns away from the Source of every good thing and every perfect gift (Jas. 1:17).
d. Consider how this man makes choices in his life.
i. When he has to choose between man’s way and God’s way, he chooses man’s way because he "trusts in mankind.”
ii. When he chooses a spouse, he chooses according to the world’s plan for marriage (Judg. 14:3; Prov. 11:22).
iii. When he raises his children, he follows man’s wisdom for their education, socialization, recreation, and preparation (2Cor. 6:14-18).
iv. Every part of his life is governed by man’s ideas – his home, his work, his friends, his money, his habits, his hobbies, etc.
v. Even if he seeks to worship God, he will follow man’s ways rather than God’s word (Matt. 15:7-9).
2. The outcome of his folly is ruin, disaster, and a wasted, unfruitful life.
a. Because this man "makes flesh his strength,” he chooses to build his life on a foundation that is guaranteed to fail. Notice 1Corinthians 15:50 – "Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
b. His poor and foolish choices leave him spiritually barren like the bush in the desert. His life will yield no good fruit and will be the tree that is "cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 3:10; 7:19; Luke 3:9).
III. THE BLESSED TREE
A. Read Jeremiah 17:7-8:
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.”
B. Consider the fruitful life of a tree that is firmly planted by the water.
1. This tree’s roots extend to an abundant supply of sustenance and life in the waters of the stream.
2. In the heat of the summer, this tree does not wither, but it remains fresh and green because it is supplied by the reliable stream.
3. Even in a year of drought, this tree thrives and continues to bear fruit.
C. The man who trusts the Lord with all of his heart is blessed, for he will be like that well-watered tree.
1. This man’s life is a bountiful success because he trusts in God rather than man.
a. He "trusts in the LORD,” which means that he places his confidence in God to guide him and provide for his needs.
b. His "trust is the LORD” (or his "hope the LORD is” – KJV), which means that God is his foundation, his life, and his goal (compare to Phil. 1:21; Col. 3:4).
c. Unlike the cursed man, every choice of this man is governed by the word of God.
i. When he has to choose between man’s way and God’s way, he chooses God’s way because he "trusts in the LORD.”
ii. When he chooses his spouse, he follows God’s design for marriage and not man’s wisdom (Gen. 2:18-24; Prov. 31:10-31; Eph. 5:22-33).
iii. When he raises his children, he chooses to train them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Deut. 6:6-9; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4).
iv. Every part of his life is governed by God’s word, for he trusts that God has "granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:3).
v. When he worships God, he offers worship in spirit and in truth because he knows that God seeks true worshipers (John 4:23-24).
2. The outcome of his trust is a fruitful life and the blessing of God.
a. He is like the tree planted by the stream, which endures the heat and drought while remaining green and continually bearing fruit.
b. He is described in Psalm 1:1-3:
1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
c. He lives according to the instruction of Proverbs 4:5-6:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. The "Tale of Two Trees” is a lesson in choices. Ultimately, it is a matter of choosing between two options: trust in God or trust in man.
1. It is the choice of faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Will you trust the unseen God, or will you trust man?
2. This decision will affect every other decision made thereafter.
B. Which will it be for you? Your decision will determine whether you will be like the cursed desert bush that sees no prosperity or the blessed tree that is well-watered and bears fruit year after year.
C. The right choice is obvious. "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man” (Ps. 118:8).