Take the Tree, Build the Table

“Then God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.’” — Genesis 1:11

In one of his sermons, Bishop T.D. Jakes pointed out something simple but profound: God made trees, not tables. He gave us the raw material, not the finished product. He expects us to participate—to take what He has already created and shape it into what we need.

This is a powerful image for us as founders and builders. God rarely hands down ready-made solutions. He gives us seeds, trees, wood. And then, He waits for us to imagine, design, and construct. Whether it's a business, a ministry, or even a simple process at work, we are called to co-create with Him.

But there's a tension to hold. It's easy to swing between two extremes—doing everything in our own strength or doing nothing and waiting passively for divine intervention. Yet the invitation is neither. It’s to recognize what God has already provided, and then to use our skills, hands, and minds to build with purpose and integrity.

From the first cave-dwellers to today’s engineers, humanity has moved forward by shaping what God has placed in creation. Our responsibility is to continue that movement—not for exploitation, but for blessing. To create in a way that we can look back, just like God did in Genesis, and say, “This is good.”

God won’t make your table, but He gave you the tree—now build with Him.

# Action Items

• Look around your life or work for areas where you are waiting passively instead of building with what you have.
• Identify one raw resource (time, skill, connection, material) and brainstorm three ways to shape it into something of value.
• Pray for discernment to know when your creation reflects God’s goodness and serves your community well.