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.
