He 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.

  Psalm 1:3

In the very first Psalm, we find a tremendous word picture of what a Christian life is to be. The passage above is that word picture. But someone might wonder how a passage of scripture from the Old Testament accurately describes a life living under the new covenant. The answer is simple. Everything that we read in the Old Testament is fulfilled in the Person of Christ under the new. So when we see the Psalmist referring to a life “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,” we know that he is describing a Christian. And while the first two verses of this Psalm give us the criteria for living this kind of spiritual life, it is the word picture in verse three in which we will now focus. There are four (4) characteristics in this description and all of them should be present in the life of a healthy Christian. We will use four (4) words to describe each of the characteristics (all ending with the letters “ity.”) So with that being said, let’s take a look at the first characteristic of what I will call the “Ity’s” of a Christian life.

1. Stability

“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water…”

If there is anything that a born again believer in Jesus should be in this world, it is that of being stable. Spiritual stability doesn’t come from intellectual doctrine alone rather true spiritual stability comes from an authentic relationship with Jesus in which we walk with Christ everyday. We could compare this saving relationship with Jesus to that of marriage. When evaluating our marriages, the issue isn’t reduced to a series of statements that we could make regarding marriage (even though those statements may be completely accurate.) Our marriages can only be properly assessed by examining the relationship that we have with our spouse. The stability of marriage hinges completely on that relationship. The same is true with our relationship with Christ. Our spiritual stability isn’t simply a matter of making doctrinal statements about God, humanity, salvation, and so forth (even if those statements are all rooted in truth.) Our spiritual stability comes as we walk with Christ daily and foster a deep, intimate relationship with Him. Just like marriage, this doesn’t happen by accident. It takes work and we must desire that relationship with Jesus over and above anything else that we might pursue in this life. 

In the Psalm, we read that a healthy Christian will be “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water.” This word “firmly” implies stability. Like the mighty oak, as the tree grows, its trunk grows larger in diameter and its root system extends deeper into the ground. Couple that with the fact that the tree is being fed “by streams of water” and we have the recipe for tremendous growth. Our Christian lives require regular time spent with God and His Word. When we ignore time spent in the Word, we can expect to forfeit spiritual stability. Being exposed to regular preaching and teaching of the Bible (including our own study) acts as a way of nourishing us spiritually. Like the “streams of water” that feed the tree, God’s Word feeds us, making us stronger and more healthy. And as we grow, we become more stable, not just in doctrine, but in our relationship with Christ. Paul tells us about this spiritual growth process. Consider the following:

…until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming…

    Ephesians 4:13-14

 Paul is referring to the role of leadership in the church to instruct and equip those within the body. Then he gives us the goal of this biblical instruction: unity, knowledge, and spiritual maturity. Only when we are actively growing in our faith do we experience the spiritual stability that God desires for His children to have. And what is the result of this spiritual maturity? We will no longer be spiritual children. Do we consider ourselves to be maturing adults or mere children when it comes to our relationship with Christ? As children, we run the risk of being deceived but as maturing adults, we position ourselves to survive other’s attempts to drive us away from our Savior. Paul reminds us that as maturing, spiritual adults, we will no longer be, “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming…” 

Three phrases emerge from this passage of scripture. First, we have “every wind of doctrine.” When it comes to opinions regarding doctrine, there seems to be as many as those who render them. But remember, spiritual stability comes not just from what we know but rather is enjoyed when we are stable in whom we know. When the often fruitless arguments about scripture begin, we can lean on what Christ Himself has revealed to us as we spend time with Him and His word. 

Secondly, we see that spiritual maturity protects us from “the trickery of men.” As born again believers in Jesus, our faith is in Christ Himself, not in the spiritual establishments of mankind. There are those in this world who would seek to “trick” or deceive us, but a strong relationship with Jesus, coupled with a firm knowledge of scripture and we can find ourselves completely protected from those who would seek to draw us away from our Savior. 

Lastly, we see that spiritual maturity protects us from “craftiness in deceitful scheming.” When listening to someone else offer up spiritual teaching or counsel, it’s always important to ask the question, “Is this person leading me to a specific doctrine, denomination, or tradition or are they leading me to Jesus?” The answer to that question will usually allow us to discern the “craftiness in deceitful scheming.” Christians are followers of Christ not followers of man. Spiritual maturity will allow us to see the difference between the two. Solid churches are those who lead people to Jesus.

It is important that we regularly expose ourselves to the teaching and preaching of the Bible along with a personal study of scripture in order to be strong, healthy, and maturing Christians. Like our daily meals in which we partake to strengthen our physical bodies, regular, daily exposure to God’s Word will spiritually feed us. But remember, nothing moves us closer to spiritual growth, maturity, and stability than that of a daily, personal relationship with the Savior Himself!