Jeremiah chapter 17 contains a warning against trusting in human strength or material possessions instead of trusting in God. The chapter begins by describing the punishment that will come upon those who trust in man instead of God: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5, NIV). The chapter then goes on to contrast this with the blessings that come to those who trust in God: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him” (Jeremiah 17:7, NIV).

In the past year God has revealed to me my worthless attempts in making alliances with the “right people” as well as my reliance on the false god of self, money, success, and more. I learned the lesson of this passage the hard way. This passage uses the imagery of a tree to illustrate the contrast between those who trust in man and those who trust in God. The person who trusts in man is like a withered tree that has no roots and no hope for the future, while the person who trusts in God is like a tree planted by water that is nourished and fruitful. 

The chapter concludes with a plea for God to heal the people of Judah and turn them back to Him. The passage reminds us that true happiness and fulfillment come from trusting in God, not in the things of this world.

As we go through life, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that our success and security depend solely on our own abilities or possessions. However, this passage reminds us that ultimately, our trust and confidence must be in God. Only He can provide us with the strength, guidance, and security that we need. May we always look to Him as our source of hope and strength.

Are you stratified with being unfruitful, or do you, like a well-watered tree, have strength for time of crisis and even some to share as you bear fruit for the Lord?