natural fruit, spiritual root

A negative spiritual root produces negative natural fruit. For example,

Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
even strife and dishonor will cease. Pro 22:10

The spiritual root is a spirit of scoffing, or unbelief; the natural fruit produced are thoughts and actions of contention, strife, and dishonor.

But the same principle applies for our good! A positive spiritual root produces positive natural fruit.

A merry heart does good like a medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones. Pro 17:22

The spiritual root is a merry or joyful heart; the natural fruit produced is help for physical health.

A pastor friend of ours used to say, “If there is a problem in the natural, fix it in the spiritual.” So true!