There is a lesson of eternal value in the parable found in Judges 9:7-15. One of Gideon’s sons named Jotham gave this parable against Abimelech, a child of Gideon’s concubine, who conspired with his mother’s people to kill his other brethren. Our lesson comes from the different responses of the trees in the parable when discussing which tree should be made king. First is the olive tree, which refused to be made king over all the other trees because it felt that the demands of palace life would prevent it from using its fatness to produce oil from anointing kings, priests and prophets. The olive tree considered its calling as a producer of oil to be far superior to being a king. It knew that without fulfilling its purpose, no king, priest or prophet could be installed. The olive tree therefore decided to stay within its calling as a producer of oil. What a great lesson! Next up was the fig tree, which also turned down the throne because it felt that the fruits it was producing were more important to humanity than being a king. The vine also believed that the wine made from its fruits was of greater importance to God and man than being the king of trees. How amazing! The question is, if trees of the field are so wise as to stay within their God-given roles in the divine arrangement, how come men are bereft of this wisdom? The Holy Spirit says in 1st Corinthians 7:20
“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”

More than ever, it is pertinent for the Body of Christ to embrace this truth. In 1st Corinthians 12:4-7, the Holy Spirit makes it clear to us that we all have different callings:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
More often than not, those who struggle to occupy positions that they consider to be “juicy” lose their original place in God and become unprofitable in the positions they occupy through covetousness. They even become destructive to the Body of Christ, like the bramble tree in Jotham’s parable (Judges 9:14).

Beloved, do you know your calling? Are you operating within this calling? Are you satisfied with how God has made you and the assignment He has committed to your hands to profit His Body? As your honestly answer these questions, it shall be well with you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

kpakpandoN:
There is a lesson of eternal value in the parable found in Judges 9:7-15. One of Gideon’s sons named Jotham gave this parable against Abimelech, a child of Gideon’s concubine, who conspired with his mother’s people to kill his other brethren. Our lesson comes from the different responses of the trees in the parable when discussing which tree should be made king. First is the olive tree, which refused to be made king over all the other trees because it felt that the demands of palace life would prevent it from using its fatness to produce oil from anointing kings, priests and prophets. The olive tree considered its calling as a producer of oil to be far superior to being a king. It knew that without fulfilling its purpose, no king, priest or prophet could be installed. The olive tree therefore decided to stay within its calling as a producer of oil. What a great lesson! Next up was the fig tree, which also turned down the throne because it felt that the fruits it was producing were more important to humanity than being a king. The vine also believed that the wine made from its fruits was of greater importance to God and man than being the king of trees. How amazing! The question is, if trees of the field are so wise as to stay within their God-given roles in the divine arrangement, how come men are bereft of this wisdom? The Holy Spirit says in 1st Corinthians 7:20
“Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.”

More than ever, it is pertinent for the Body of Christ to embrace this truth. In 1st Corinthians 12:4-7, the Holy Spirit makes it clear to us that we all have different callings:
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
More often than not, those who struggle to occupy positions that they consider to be “juicy” lose their original place in God and become unprofitable in the positions they occupy through covetousness. They even become destructive to the Body of Christ, like the bramble tree in Jotham’s parable (Judges 9:14).

Beloved, do you know your calling? Are you operating within this calling? Are you satisfied with how God has made you and the assignment He has committed to your hands to profit His Body? As your honestly answer these questions, it shall be well with you in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Eternal truth for all to abide by...