I understand the talk about the evil in extremes. I’d have an easy time arguing Aristotle’s “Golden Mean” philosophy for this book. Very good point there.

I see your point on Phil 4:13, but I don’t think everything in the Bible was said with a context in mind. Think Revelation here, but I speculate. The context for Paul’s verse about Christ’s strength giving him the power to do all things should always be thought of as within the boundary of God’s will.

The giving aspect of God and the tree is definitely more one-sided, if you really try to take measure of it all. God gave His own Son for us(Himself really), and all we do is believe and confess.
But that’s not my central point. My central point is that whenever you think you can’t go to God for a direction, for an answer, for forgiveness, He can provide it. You might get a bad answer, or work hard for that direction, but God still provides.

I have considered putting an allusion to this story, however I see it best as a tale of two extremes. The boy is destroying himself through greed, and the tree is destroying itself through charity.

The extremes show us how being too far either way can destroy us. The tree was never loved in return even though it gave everything. The boy ended up alone because he took everything he could.

I find God saying “no” to things I ask for. They are not what I need. Maybe the story offers some wisdom into two vices?

Remember when you use scripture to keep it in context. Something helpful when creating allusions is to look at a whole passage so that a verse is in context.
Ex. Phil 4:13 >> talking about Paul’s hardships and how he has known what it feels like to be poor and have plenty

Phil 4:13, if we truly believe it, means that we are content no matter what the circumstances.

Nice job overall.