AN ILLUSTRATION OF TAMARIND TREE “A GIVING FROM HEAVEN”

There is a big and tall tamarind tree in the front of my house. Very leafy and became a shade when the sun was shining. In the rainy season the leaves are growing denser, have a bright green color and could be used as an ingredient in a traditional beverage. In the dry season the tamarind tree will began to bear so much fruit. The tamarind fruit could be useful for many purpose like as a sour flavor in a food, processed for the traditional beverages, and the ripe fruit of tamarind could eaten simply with sugar.

Since the tamarind is a big and tall tree, it is impossible to us to reach the fruits by hand. So if we want it, we can only expect the fruits will fall to the ground. At the end of the dry season like now, mostly of the fruits already ripe. Every time when the wind blows a bit hard the fruit will immediately falling and causing a distinctive sound when the fruits hit the ground. It made us have a new exciting habit that is picking up the falls tamarind fruit. Indeed, we can easily buy it in the market but we could have a very special satisfaction when we get the fruits straight from the tree. When the wind blows we are always listening carefully and when the distinction sound heard, we rushed out of the house to pick the fruit up. Quite often the fruit was falling around us when we were under the tree.

One day, since in the morning wind blows harder than usual. Inevitably, the tamarind fruits fall unstoppable. That afternoon we harvest the tamarind fruits. Not finished we picked the one; the other fruits have fallen continuously. It was so fun! At that moment, suddenly the Lord filled my heart and mind with a comprehension, “That is called “Blessing” Oh…that understanding was really liberate me.

Where the seed of the tamarind tree come from? Not from me.

Who makes the tree grows? Not me.

What I have done so that the tree bears the fruits? I have done nothing.

Who makes the wind blow and shake up the branches of the tree where the fruits were hanging? Not me too.

What I have done so the fruits of tamarind fell in my yard? Nothing! I did not do anything.

Father in Heaven who has done everything, yes everything!

Father deliberately dropping the tamarind’s fruits in the front of me so I can pick it up for free, like fallen from heaven!

Such is the blessing, isn’t it?!

You might say, “Ah, but there must be someone sowing the seeds and planted them. There must be anyone taking care of the tree. In order can reap the fruit, we must sow. in this live we have to do something if you want to get something.”

Okay, now let’s see one by one:

Who PROVIDE THE SEED for us? Lord.

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. (2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV)

Who GIVE THE RAIN so the seed could grow, fruitful, and manifold? LORD

Then He will give the rain for your seed with which you sow the ground, and bread of the increase of the earth; it will be fat and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures. (Isaiah 30:23 NKJV)

Who GIVES GROWTH on the seeds we have sown? LORD

Jesus gave a parable in Mark 4: 26-29, that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed the seed in the ground. “And should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.” (Verse 27-28 NKJV)

We have not done anything in the seed so that they grow. The seed undergoes the process by itself. Notice that all of it because the God’s power.

But… If all because of God does not mean we just stand idly. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

SOW

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good. (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NKJV)

Do not be lazy, we must be diligent.

DEVELOPING THE CAPACITY

“…..when the Lord God made the earth and heavens. Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.” (Genesis 2:4-5 NET)

Notice that there are two things that make the seed grow: the rain and those who cultivate the ground. So, we must be a people who can be trusted by God as responsible managers for land / areas that God gave to us. Our result depends on how much we can be trusted and how much our capacity to accept the responsibility from God. If you want to be blessed we have to willing to be liable.

BLESSING = RESPONSIBILITY. ACCEPT THE BLESSINGS MEAN ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY

What if have sown but not yet seen the results? DO NOT WORRY.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:26, 31-32 NKJV)

We had a good Father and love us. If God feeds the bird in the air, moreover we are His children.

Blessings that we receive are not the result of our efforts. BLESSING IS A GIVING FROM HEAVEN

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:2 NKJV)

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22 NKJV)

All that God wants us to do is for us to learn to be liable, but all of the results from the Father: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24 NKJV)

From this day do all our duties with joy because of God, not as a burden. Our results do not depend from our hard work, but blessings from God. That is grace. That is a giving from Heaven, we just receive it. It is not our own ability and skill.

Be careful not to say, “My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.” You must remember the Lord your God, for He is the one who gives ability to get wealth; ……. (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 NET)

All of our needs or even our wishes are not on our shoulder but in the Father’s hands, the Father who preserve and provide everything. No matter how big our need and wishes: NOTHING SHALL IMPOSSIBLE BEFORE GOD.

Amen

By: Sella Irene – Beautiful Words

Posted in Bahasa: ILUSTRASI POHON ASAM “PEMBERIAN DARI SORGA” (click here)

Photo by: Sella Irene