The importance of food in prolonged battles
It is indeed a wise instruction to leave fruit trees standing while cutting down other trees to build siege equipment for battle. This is the intelligent management of resources. As believers, we often fight battles. They may be in defense of our spiritual blessings in Christ and their possession, or they may be against a threat or obstacle that is limiting our spiritual growth. Sometimes, these battles are quickly won, but sometimes, they are long and arduous. In this, they are like the siege of a city. But we do not know in advance whether the siege will be long or short, which is why we must learn to use the resources available to us wisely.
The trees for food must be preserved. This is essential to ensure the strength and health of the soldiers. Siege equipment is also strategically important for a battle, but what use is it if no one has the strength to use it due to a lack of food? It is the same with Christian warfare. We must never neglect the food that our souls need. To do this, we must go into the presence of the Lord every day. Prayer, reading and studying the Word, Christian fellowship, and attending meetings – these are all indispensable ways in which the Lord nourishes our souls and keeps them strong in the midst of all difficulties.
We can, of course, read books about the kind of spiritual battle we are in or seek counsel from spiritual brothers and sisters, but these tools are only “siege tools,” not nourishment. They may be strategically important to winning the battle, but if we neglect food and spiritual strength and the battle goes on for a long time, we will not win! We must never neglect our spiritual food, which gives us strength.
