Where Are You Rooted?
Reflections from Psalm 52 and a Gas Station Encounter
No kidding—there I was. Driving to a normal lunch that turned very abnormal, very fast.
I was merging from one busy Atlanta highway to another when I noticed a car parked in the emergency lane. A man stood beside it, waving for help. What struck me wasn't just his presence—it was how many people passed him without stopping. That didn’t sit right with me.
So, wanting to be a hero, I did what I hope more people would do: I pulled over, rolled down my window, and offered help.
What I received was a masterclass in manipulation—a perfectly crafted plea for money. The man spoke well, too well. Smooth. Convincing. Something in me didn’t sit right with handing over cash, so I offered to follow them to a nearby gas station, where I’d fill their tank and get some cash there. After all, he said his family was in the car.
On the way, I called my wife to discuss how much we can give.
I noticed a few more red flags when we arrived at the gas station.
The man—who claimed to have a family in the car—instead had another man with him, just as sketchy. They parked away from the pump, backed into a spot, and told me to skip the gas—just get the cash.
I agreed, mainly to buy time. I got the money, snapped a photo of their license plate, and returned.
They noticed.
“Delete that,” one of them demanded.
I looked at them with direct fire from God and said, “No,” I replied. “And I’m reporting you.”
They bolted.
Ten minutes later, driving to lunch, I saw them again. This time, they were pulled over with a single female driver who had stopped to help. I jumped into action—cutting in front of her car, running toward the scammers, and doing what I now call...(and laugh about)
“The Old Testament Curse.”
I let them have it—not with fists, but with fierce words:
“If you keep manipulating and scamming people, especially vulnerable women, you’ll never make money. You’ll be poor the rest of your lives.”
I didn’t plan that. It just... came out.
They scrambled, fled, and I followed long enough to ensure they’d think twice about returning.
The Real Lesson
What saddened me most was this:
The man was good. Talented. Articulate. Persuasive. He would’ve made a fantastic salesperson—legitimately. But instead of using his gifts for good, he rooted himself in deception.
Like Psalm 52:7 says:
“See the man who would not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
This psalm is about Doeg the Edomite, who betrayed the priest Ahimelek to King Saul (see 1 Samuel 21–22). Doeg’s actions led to the massacre of God’s priests. His roots were in power, not God—and his fruit was death.
But David didn’t retaliate with violence.
He wrote a psalm.
He gave the world a warning and a glimpse of hope.
Where Are You Rooted?
Psalm 52 teaches that your roots will always determine your fruit.
Evil is loud—but not lasting.
Headlines don’t tell the full story.
Justice may not be immediate, but it is inevitable.
And sometimes, yes—justice comes through a guy in a Toyota Corolla delivering a Davidic-style rebuke.
But don’t mistake this:
While it felt satisfying to stand up and speak out, my greatest growth came afterward—when I brought it back to the Lord. Not in vengeance, but in surrender.
David writes:
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.” (Psalm 52:8)
What a picture.
Olive trees live for hundreds of years. They’re rugged and fruitful. They provide food for nourishment and oil for healing, light, and so much more. That’s what we’re called to be—fruitful and useful, not flashy and temporary.
A Note on Money
Money isn’t evil. The love of it is.
It’s mentioned over 800 times in the Bible—not because it's inherently wrong, but because it so often reveals our roots.
Your finances, speech, and ambition will reflect His kingdom if you're rooted in Christ.
If you're rooted in self, they’ll eventually rot the tree.
Final Thought: Righteous Judgment or Rooted Love?
No, I don’t recommend confronting scammers on the street. That was likely adrenaline and instinct. What I do recommend is this:
Be discerning.
Yes, be protective of the vulnerable.
But most of all—be rooted.
Let God’s Word form your instincts.
Let His presence shape your reactions.
Let your identity in Christ be the soil where your life grows.
Never Finished Challenge
Spend 5 minutes today asking this simple question:
Where am I rooted?
In God’s love, truth, and justice?
Or in fear, self-preservation, or control?
Write it down. Pray over it.
Let the Holy Spirit show you where your branches are growing—and where they need pruning.
My Journey
I’m still growing.
I was 14, suicidal, and hopeless.
I should be six feet under, in a hole.
But Jesus rooted me in grace.
And day by day, He grooms my branches—making me useful, strong, and fruitful for the kingdom.
To God be the glory.
What a King.
What a Father.
What a Friend.
Thank you, Jesus. 🌿