Being Careful About What We Visualize

Scripture Verse that Caught My Attention Today: Judges 9:8-9 The trees once went out
to anoint a king over themselves.
So they said to the olive tree,
‘Reign over us.’
9 The olive tree answered them,
‘Shall I stop producing my rich oil
by which gods and mortals are honored,
and go to sway over the trees?’
Observation: This example of wise and foolish trees can apply today as well.

Application: If you’ve been following this blog as of late, you’ve noticed that I have some questions in terms of goals (i.e. how does one know which—if any—goals are ultimately worthwhile?). In the verses above we see a similar questioning going on. The foolish trees feel like they need a tree to ‘reign’ over them. The wise trees are not so easily swayed (no pun intended!) and respond that they already have a noble purpose.

Earlier today I was directed to an internet product which is somewhat based on ideas found in a 1996 book called “The Secret” and subsequent movie. From what I could tell, the internet marketer sells a product that helps people make their own mini movies which are often times more or less a visualization for everything grand that they might want in their life. This “if you believe it you can achieve it” is form of positive thinking is not particularly new and, as has always been the case, has some serious pitfalls. In the first place, it tends to be very self-centered, perhaps even narcissistic--what you want matters, everything else is secondary. In the second place, it tends to appeal to people with abilities/circumstances beyond the norm of the masses. Would the plight of impoverished people in portions of Africa, for example, likely become considerably more prosperous if they simply started visualizing a better life?

In the story of chapters 9 and 10 of Judges, Abimelech is one of the 70 sons of Gideon/Jerubbaal and he has a vision for his life that he should be in charge. So he takes action and brutally kills all but one of his brothers. The escaped brother is Jotham and he is the one who tells the story of the wise and foolish trees—an allegory of his wicked brother and the elders of Israel who agreed to Abimelech’s horribly self-centered plot. From the trees we learn that even if one can both believe and achieve something, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a vision/goal worth pursuing. Unfortunately, Abimelech never realized the futility of his own dream until “a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull” (Judges 9:53).

Prayer: Lord, if we have any hopes and aspirations, let them be rooted in Jesus’ model of humble service rather than humanity’s tendency toward self grandiosity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Judges 9-10, Psalm 49 and 1 Corinthians 16)