| October 5, 2005
What Good Is A Rubber Tree?
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. —1 Corinthians 12:4-5
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On one of his voyages to the New World, Christopher Columbus came across a remarkable tree. It had round fruit that bounced like a ball. Its Indian name was caoutchouc—"the weeping wood."
The tree was given that name because it emitted a sap that looked like the tree's tears. Eventually, inventors discovered that the sap could be harvested and allowed to harden into an eraser that rubbed out pencil lead—hence the name "rubber."
In the 1830s it was found that rubber could withstand very cold temperatures when sulfur was added to it. This led the way to a huge demand for rubber when the automobile was invented. Later it was discovered that the sap could be used to make latex surgical gloves. The rubber tree had multiple uses that needed only to be discovered.
Likewise, when we consider the spiritual gifts taught in the Bible, we may find that we have more than one. If we try out new avenues of ministry, we may find that we have abilities previously unknown to us.
Whatever your spiritual gifts may be, they come to you from the Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). What new ministry should you try out? You may discover a spiritual gift you never knew you had. —Dennis Fisher
Lord, please give me the willingness to explore the
spiritual gifts You have planted within me.
Give me the desire to use them in ways
that would please You and help Your people. Amen.
Discover your spiritual gifts by using the talents God has given.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
How Can I Know What God Wants Me To Do?
The rubber tree had multiple uses that needed only to be discovered.
And this led to the Peter, Paul & Mary tribute "Rubber Tree"
When I was just a lad of ten, my father said to me,
Come here and learn a lesson from the lovely rubber tree.
Don’t put your faith in love, my boy, my father said to me,
I fear you’ll find that love is like the lovely rubber tree.
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.
Beneath the rubber tree one day, my love and I did a lie
A girl so sweet that when she smiled the sun rose in the sky.
We passed that summer lost in love beneath the rubber tree
The music of her laughter hid my father’s words from me:
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.
One day she left without a word. she took away the sun.
And in the dark she left behind, I knew what she had done.
She’d left me for another, it’s a common tale but true.
A sadder man but wiser now I sing these words to you:
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.
rubber tree very pretty and the rubber flower is sweet
But the fruit of the poor rubber is impossible to eat.