THREE boys were to be seen walking toward a woods one day, talking eagerly. One whose name was Philip was begging another to climb an especially high tree in search of a bird’s nest. But Fred knew his father had told him to stay away from those trees.
“No, Philip,” he said, “I’m sorry but I couldn’t do that for you.”
“Yes, you could,” said Phil, “for you are the best climber about here.”
“Not today! Perhaps some other time,” Fred answered.
“I thought you were a plucky fellow,” said Tom, the third boy, “that would do what no one else could; but if you’re afraid you needn’t go up.”
“Oh, I’m not afraid, Phil, it’s not the climbing I mind. Show me the tree, and I’ll soon show you whether I’m a coward or not.”
Fred knew he was doing wrong. Yet the fear of his friends overcame him and made him more of a coward than if he had refused to climb the dangerous tree.
The Word of God says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:2525The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25). The Lord Jesus is the only One who can keep us safe when we are tempted to disobey our parents or to do anything not pleasing to Him.
So Fred climbed the high tree and was about to throw down the bird’s nest to his friends, when Tom’s father called the boys to come at once, and they had to go, leaving Fred in the tree. But he was a prisoner, unable to get down, for the branch on which he sat was so small that it was impossible to change his position without danger.
“I must stay where I am until the boys have had their dinner, and when they come back ask them to bring a ladder to help me down.”
However, evening came on and Fred grew tired of his uncomfortable position. He shouted as loudly as he could, but no one heard him. Must he spend the night in the tree? Oh, how he wished he had had courage enough to do what was right. He remembered the words, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Prov. 18:1010The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10).
At last he tried to let himself down to a stronger bough beneath him. How the small branch shook and bent and swayed as he clung to it and wildly searched for a footing below. With a sudden crack it gave way under the strain of his weight.
Then a long silence followed. The birds, frightened from their nests, fluttered to the nearest tree, still keeping watch over their young. But Fred lay stunned and motionless on the hard ground below.
Here his sister found him in the twilight and ran to the farmhouse for help. Phil and Tom felt a little uneasy as she led them to the spot. Seeing Fred they exclaimed, “Oh, he has fallen from the tree! He’s killed; we’ve done it all.”
Fred was not killed but seriously injured, and he spent many weary months of suffering before he was well again. During that time he turned to the Lord Jesus, truly sorry for his ways and learned to love and trust the One who first loved him.
Let us not forget this word, dear children, “The fear of man bringeth a snare,” Prov. 29:2525The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25). We are likely to fall into very unhappy ways if we have this fear before us.
ML-03/06/1960