Two Trees

A man went into the forest to choose a tree from which to make
roof beams. And he saw two trees, one beside the other. One was
smooth and tall but had rotted away inside, and the other was
rough on the outside and ugly, but its core was healthy.
The man sighed, and said to himself: “What use is this tree to me if
it is rotten inside and useless for beams? The other though it is rough and
ugly, is at least healthy on the inside and so, if I put a bit more
effort into it, I can use it for roof beams for my house.” And, without thinking any more about it, he chose that tree.
So will God choose between two men for His house, and will
choose not the one who appears outwardly righteous, but the one whose heart is filled with God’s healthy righteousness.

Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic