Put Down Roots

By Paul Chappell

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

Ephesians 4:14-16

Author David F. Wells wrote, "Today, we are neither rooted nor do we have much sense of belonging. We are in fact the uprooted generations, the disconnected, the drifters, the alone. We are being blown around by the windstorms of modernity. Our roots in families, place, and work have all withered or been cut off." That may be true of our culture, but it does not have to be true of us.

There may be times when we need to relocate for family or work reasons, and sometimes it is God’s will for people to move. However people frequently drift from one place to the next for less compelling reasons. We need to put down deep roots wherever we are. There needs to be a depth of commitment—to family, to God, to church—that is unable to be shaken by anything that occurs.

Psalm 1:3 promises that a believer who loves and meditates in the Scriptures "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." This is the key to a stable and productive life. A fruit tree that is moved every year is not going to be a healthy and productive tree because it has no time to take root. Rather than constantly being driven from place to place by changing ideas and circumstances, we need to make the commitment to stand firm.

Today's Rooted Principle:

Keep your commitments today. Do what you can to be part of building what will last.