’Ol McDonald Had A Farm

            An old story is told of a preacher driving by a farm. Its fields were ripe unto harvest; all rows had been plowed in perfect symmetry. The farm looked picturesque—like the painting of a master artist.

            And then the minister saw the farmer on his tractor. He flagged him down, and the farmer stopped. The preacher introduced himself and, full of enthusiasm, said to the farmer, “My friend, this is beautiful! God has certainly blessed you with a wonderful farm.”

            The farmer suspended movement for a moment and then slowly pulled out his bandana and wiped his brow. He gazed at the preacher, then at the farm, and then back at the preacher again. Then, with deliberation, the farmer said, “Yes, He has, and we’re grateful. But you should have seen this place when He had it all to Himself.”

            Now, I don’t like where some people take that story; namely, to overemphasize the role people play in their lives and thereby diminishing the role God plays. Having said that, I do notice that many Christians go the other direction and reduce the responsibility God has given humans to work. Indeed, work is one way to collaborate with God in his Kingdom.

            As the farmer invested in removing rocks, trees, plowing, sowing seeds…, so we too invest time and effort in our work. This is good, and it was so before the Fall of Adam.

·      Enjoy your work.

·      Invest in it.

·      Work hard.

·      See your work as a collaboration with God.