TREE-KILLING MICE

            The little flowering crab tree looked so unhealthy this spring. When other trees began leafing, it did not. No buds formed and, of course, there were no beautiful pink flowers. I looked the tree over time after time and could not find a reason. Then I moved some soil away from the base of the tree. I saw that the bark was missing all around the tree right at the ground.

            Life giving sap flows under the bark, and since a strip of bark was gone from the entire circumference, the sap flow was interrupted. It could not reach the branches. The tree died. I asked the owner of a tree farm what happened, and he said that mice probably ate the bark. We have replaced the tree now and have learned how to prevent it from happening again.

            I must take care lest my life becomes a reflection of that little tree. Branches cannot produce leaves, buds, flowers or fruit. The branches are simply vessels through which the sap flows. Jesus said, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

            My life can yield spiritual beauty, fragrance and fruit only when I am vitally joined to the Savior in fellowship. I must not allow anything to disturb that fellowship, for it is the spiritual sap of my very existence. There are many "mice" that would destroy that fellowship. Entertainment, overtime, community, church, and family activities all vie for our time. In stretching ourselves thin, we sacrifice the element that gives us vitality in life - fellowship with Christ.

            Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word. Martha had that same opportunity, but instead became engrossed in service. Martha felt slighted because she was doing all the work, and she complained. Jesus helped her to see priorities when He said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

            I do not want to minimize the importance of serving Christ. Far to many of God's people do far too little for His cause. It is possible, however, to be too busy even if that busyness includes Christian service. Some of us need to slow down and sit at the feet of Jesus to hear His word. As important as Christian service is, it is worthless if we lose touch with the Savior. Jesus did not say, "I have come to give them abundant things to do." He said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."

            In Bible college, I sometimes heard professors and chapel speakers say that a Christian college was the easiest place to backslide. What they said about Bible college applies as well to the ministry. The emphasis is simply that serving Christ cannot be a substitute for fellowship with Christ. Working for Him must never take the place of walking with Him.

            Though that little crab tree still appeared to be intact, there was no vitality. When the sap no longer flowed, the tree was a diminished blessing to us. Similarly, my life will be the greatest blessing to others when fellowship with Christ is my priority. Only then is there true beauty, fragrance, and fruit. I must keep the "mice" from destroying it.