Roots Grow Before Fruit

Hi, my name is Don Simmons, and today I would like to talk about two trees.
That is where the story of wealth, wisdom, and eternity begins.

In the opening pages of Scripture, God places humanity in a garden of abundance and meaning. At its center stand two trees—the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These are not botanical footnotes. They are theological signposts. One tree represents dependence, trust, and life that flows from God. The other represents autonomy, control, and the illusion that we can define “good returns” apart from Him.

The poet Joyce Kilmer captured this mystery with humble clarity: “Poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.” Trees preach a sermon without words. They grow slowly. They reach upward. They receive before they produce. And in Eden, the Tree of Life stood as a living reminder that true flourishing comes not from grasping, but from abiding.

“I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree… A tree that looks at God all day, and lifts her leafy arms to pray.” That image is striking—a creation oriented upward, rooted downward, patiently bearing fruit in season. That is the posture of a faithful steward.

Eternal investing begins here. The Tree of Life was not consumed once and discarded. It was meant to sustain life continuously. In Revelation, that same tree reappears—still bearing fruit, still healing the nations. God’s economy has always been long-term. His returns are generational. His metrics include fruit we may never live to see.

Modern investing tempts us toward the second tree—quick gains, visible wins, control, and self-reliance. But stewardship invites us back to the first tree. To plant capital where growth is slow but enduring. To invest in people, communities, and creation in ways that honor God’s design. Most investors use people to build wealth. A righteous investor uses wealth to build people. Can you accept that some of the greatest dividends will be invisible on quarterly statements but unmistakable in eternity?

Trees teach us patience. Roots grow before fruit. Faithfulness precedes abundance. And life—real life—flows from staying connected to the Giver, not merely mastering the system.

So, the question is not whether we are investing wisely by the world’s standards. The deeper question is which tree our lives and portfolios are oriented toward.

So, ask yourself: “If future generations examined my stewardship, would they find the fruit of the Tree of Life?”