Built to Last

Chapter-a-Day Psalm 52

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
Psalm 52:8 (NLT)

I’ve already seen many things change in my lifetime. Experts say that technology is advancing so rapidly that we are experiencing more change at a faster rate than any generation of humans before us. One of the changes I’ve noticed is our transformation into a disposable society. We don’t make things to last anymore. We make things to get us by for a time in anticipation that we will get something “new and improved” in a relatively short period of time. We are quick to toss things away and acquire something new.

I often wonder how this rapid-change, toss-away culture affects our spiritual health and formation. God calls us into relationship with Him and quality relationships are not temporal or disposable. They require time, energy, perseverance and commitment. The spiritual journey is a grueling marathon, not a quick sprint.

In today’s lyric, David describes himself as an “olive tree.” In the area of Jerusalem, this metaphor would be well understood. Olive trees in Israel are nearly as plentiful as corn fields in Iowa. Olive trees aren’t much to look at, but the thing I’ve come to appreciate about the hardy, gnarled old trees is the fact that they are built to last. They live for hundreds, even thousands of years. David used the olive tree to express his commitment and devotion to God which would not quickly fade but would continually bear fruit over time.

Today, I’m reminded to appreciate things that are built to last, and to realize that this spiritual journey is a trek of iron-man like proportions. Not only that, it cuts against the grain of popular culture. It is no wonder Jesus said that the road to Life is narrow and few follow it.