Trees of Righteousness

The Bible describes those who obey and delight in God’s commandments as trees—beautiful, strong, and productive. “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.” Ps. 1:3.

I found two modern-day trees with a story. Both found that following God was an uphill path, a journey with an uncertain end and possible financial disaster. Yet both knew that God's blessings lay at the end of the journey. 

Tree #1 

Johnny White sighed as he tabulated the neat numbers in his account book. While his figures proved a marked increase in the shoe repair business, somehow his success brought little satisfaction. The old dream of owning a full-scale shoe store had resurfaced. 

But how could he? Saturday was the main day for sales in Cambridge, Maryland. He had long since pledged his life to follow Christ and His ten-commandment law. The fourth commandment plainly stated: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Ex. 20:8–10. 

How could he compete with larger shoe stores if he closed on the main shopping day? 

But then a verse with a promise popped into his mind: “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour Him…I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.” Isa. 58:13, 14. 

A growing conviction took control. With God as chief consultant, he could not fail. Johnny decided to offer his customers orthopedic shoes, particularly for children. He took a course at Ball State College on orthopedic footwear and proper fitting. His shoes must be representative of quality and fair prices, with the good of the customer always in mind. 

After careful planning, he decided to close his shop on Friday afternoon and open after sundown on Saturday night. When people inquired about the strange hours, it would give him a witnessing opportunity. 

Johnny's Shoe Store in downtown Cambridge, Maryland, sells more shoes on Saturday night than most similar stores sell all week. “The shop stays open until 10:30 p.m.,” he says with a smile, "and sometimes we have to fudge a bit in order to serve everyone. God has truly been a faithful partner." 

Tree #2

Ron Sutton listened intently as the evangelist read text after text proving that God's ten-commandment law was important to humanity today. The fourth commandment, however, filled him with turmoil. He loved his job as a mail carrier. But the U.S. Postal Service had a motto that despite rain, sleet, or snow, the mail would be delivered. He had never heard of a carrier receiving Saturdays off. What was he to do? For weeks he prayed for this cup to pass. His wife and two small children depended on him to make the house payments and provide food and clothes. Was poverty the reward for obedience? 

As he agonized on his knees, a parable came to his mind. A man, leasing a field, found treasure buried in the ground. He sold all that he had to purchase the field so that the treasure could be lawfully his. Matt. 13:44. In Ron's mind, the Sabbath was the treasure and he would have to sell everything to keep it. How could God cause this mailman to “ride on the high places of the earth,” as Isa. 58:13, 14 promised? 

Ron approached his superior and informed him of his decision to honor the Sabbath. 

"If you don't work on Saturdays, you'll lose your job," came the tart reply.

Silently, Ron went home to pray. On Friday, he reminded his boss that he would not work the following day.

"Sutton, you know that mail has to be delivered on Saturdays," he answered. "You've delivered mail faithfully for thirteen years. Why are you forcing me to dismiss you now?" 

Ron spent the next three weeks using vacation time so he could worship on Sabbath. He fasted and pled with God to intervene. He and the evangelist phoned the postmaster general, who arranged a district meeting to decide Ron's case. At the end of the meeting, he was asked to appear before the committee. 

He entered the room thirty pounds thinner, but filled with indescribable peace. "Your records show that you've been faithful with your work," the chairman began. "But as you know, mail must be delivered on Saturday. We'll have to find someone to take your place. I'm sorry, but this is one job that you can't keep if you keep your Sabbath." 

“I understand.” Ron held his head high and breathed deeply. So it had come to this. 

The chairman cleared his throat and smiled. “There is a little post office in the western part of the state that needs a postmaster. It won't require Saturday work. We'd be honored if you'd accept that position.” 

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” Deut. 28:2. 

Your test with Sabbath observance may be more severe than others; but be assured that obedience to God, trust, surrender, and a willing heart will bring an experience and a reward that's too precious to miss.