The Plumb Line: Parable of the Oak and the Willow

There were two trees planted in the same orchard, one an oak and the other a weeping willow. Each day the gardener watered the trees, fertilized them equally, and pruned their branches. Their beauty far surpassed that of any neighbor's trees.

The seasons began to change and winter skies loomed overhead. The oak quickly shed its leaves in response to the change in seasons. The willow, however, hung on to its leaves as long as it could, finally losing her lives to the bitter cold.

In the spring, new growth quickly appeared on the willow as if it couldn't wait to display its light green spring leaves. The oak, however, took its time to respond to the warm skies, not in any rush to awake from its wintry slumber, staring first with small buds on the branches, gradually growing into deep green leaves.

Soon spring led into the heat of summer. The gardener continued to water his trees, fertilizing and pruning them faithfully. The willow grew large and provided ample shade from the hot sun, spreading its roots wide as the gardener sat underneath. The oak also grew tall and strong; both trees towered over all the trees in the neighborhood.

One day a strong storm producing high winds blew through the garden. The gardener ran to the security provided him under the oak tree which stood tall and strong. Its branches moved with the gusts of the winds but refused to give way, to break, or to fall. It withstood the storm with confidence, providing the gardener the protection he needed from the storm.

The weeping willow, although it tried, failed to withstand the strong winds and it, along with its entire root system was plucked up by the wind and fell to the earth.

Consider the trees …

The oak tree plunged its roots deeply into the ground, seeking nourishment. As it reached for more nourishment, it grew until its roots were stretched so far downward that the tree above the ground was much smaller than its growth under the ground. This is a picture of a child of God who finds nourishment in the Word of God. Regardless of the season in life, regardless what comes its way, this one continues to reach for more, pressing past the dirt and the stones and anything that might prevent it from finding more nourishment. When the storms of life come, this one bends with the wind but never falls … his root system is mature and strong enough to withstand even the greatest storms.

The oak tree is the picture of one who finds satisfaction in the blessings of God—in His watering, His nurturing, and His pruning. This is a picture of the Christian who seeks God first and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), it is a picture of the one planted by the rivers of water whose leave does not wither and in whatsoever he does he prospers (Psalm 1:3). The oak tree is a picture of praise, of understanding the need for the Gardener's work in life; it is a picture of strength, of steadfastness, and of steady growth. The oak tree is a picture of understanding the seasons of life and allowing the summer and winter to have their perfect work without resisting change. This tree is not consumed with its own beauty, but desires to grow deep rather than delight in outward, visible growth. Thus, the oak tree will provide shelter and safety for others in the time of storm.

The willow tree, on the other hand, spread its roots quickly, but spread them outward rather than downward. It received its nourishment from the superficial watering, spreading its roots near the surface of the ground where it wouldn't lose sight of its own massive root system which nourished its beauty. Relishing in its own grace, its boughs bent in appearance of humility, but was unable to lift is boughs toward the sun. The visible part of the tree above the ground was much greater than its root system. When the winds and storms of life hit, its root system was unable to sustain it and it plummeted to the ground. This tree's beauty was in its appearance of "weeping" or false humility. It drew attention from onlookers because of its ability to gently sway in the breezes and provide shade. It was attractive by all rights, but it was a superficial attractiveness … there was nothing to sustain the tree.

The willow tree is a picture of one who finds satisfaction in the superficial pleasures of life—worldliness. It's also a picture of one who finds satisfaction in feelings and emotions. The things of this world—the superficial things will never sustain us during a storm. Our "tree" will inevitably fall as the roots cannot offer us the stability we need to protect us during the winds and storms of life.

The weeping willow was always the last tree to lose its leaves in the winter season … it was too vain to respond to the change in seasons. The willow depicts those who are more concerned with outward appearances of grace and humility without the depth of the root system to produce true and genuine grace and humility.

Message for us …

Be careful not to allow the things of this world to nourish your growth. Guard yourself against allowing your feelings and emotions and superficial appearances to give you a false sense of humility and stability. Rather, allow your root system to grow deep as it seeks out the nourishment found from the rivers of water flowing underground.

Psalm 1:3 … "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."