One of the areas that I struggle in as I try to be a good stewardly farmer is the amount of work that I try to get done each day. My tendency is to look at all that I want to get done, write up an optimistic to do list for the day, and then run around frantically trying to get it all done, and end the day disappointed because I didn’t. However, I don’t think this is what God desires for his farmers.
One of the biblical foundations for born again farming is the fact that God is the one that makes things grow. In other words, only he can produce the fruit. This means that we aren’t to go out and try to produce fruit in our own strength. Instead, we need to focus on being faithful with the time, skill, and resources God has given us and leave the results of our faithfulness up to him.
God gives us enough time during the day to get done all that He wants us to do, but not necessarily all that we want to do.
The things that set me up for disappointment each day are my greedy expectations. I am expecting to get done more than God has granted with the time, skills, and resources entrusted to me. Because God always provides us a way to do what he commands us, I know that there is enough time in the day to get done what he wants me to. Therefore, if I am finding that I don’t have enough time, then I am obviously trying to do more than God has for me that day. So that is a sign for me to evaluate what I have on my list and pray that God would help me to know what things are important to him.
Frantic work indicates that I am being greedy and striving to achieve things in my own strength. Or just being lazy because I want to get done quickly and move on to other things instead of enjoying the work the Lord has given me. But if I am trusting in the Lord to bless the work of my hands then it will not be a frantic working.
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat– for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 128:1,2
If we aren’t getting enough sleep, then it should be an indication that we are trying to do to much. Of course, there is a time for sleep and a time to be awake and work.
Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. Prov. 20:13
Instead of frantic work, I think that born again farmers should manage their farms through faithful work. I have found this to be much more peaceful and less stressful. What I mean by faithful work is that instead of going out with a list of what I want to get done and making the main objective to accomplish as many goals as possible, I try to prayerfully put together my list for the day and faithfully complete each one to the best of my ability. This needs to be done with a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit for other opportunities that come up. And at the end of the day, if I knew that I was faithful to be diligent, working whole-heartedly at caring for and working my land, then I can be content that I accomplished what God wanted me to. Of course, there are times to press hard and work ’round the clock, but I don’t believe it should be the norm. 1 Thessalonians 4:11,12 talks about leading a quiet life, which would indicate peaceful and contented work, rather than stressful and striving.
So, as stewards (or born again farmers) let us guard against greed and trying to succeed in our own strength by frantic working. Instead, let us rest in the provision of God and whole-heartedly pursue faithfulness in caring for and working our land during the hours of the day he gives us.
just found this blog today! your writing is point-on and it was a blessing for me to find this spot. God bless you for what you are doing!
Mr. Barry,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. May God bless all your farming endeavors as you seek to redeem the dirt. I saw on your site that you have sheep. We are currently working on fencing our new pasture and plan to get sheep from a friend of ours. The pasture is around 7 acres and my goal is to use the sheep inside electrified netting and rotate them ahead of our laying hens. Any tips and advice that the Lord has shown you in raising sheep to His Glory?
Noah
Noah, We have found sheep to be a wonderful addition to our farm. We raise St. Croix hair sheep and they are very low input. We also use netting and high tensile and rotate paddocks. We have also had success in direct marketing lamb at our local farmers market.If it is the Lord’s Will, we will be expanding our flock this year.
Have a Blessed New Year! Barry
Excellent post! Thank you for reminding us of our responsibilities as believers to keep appropriate stewardship in focus as we approach the new year.
Good words that are applicable to more than farming.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I needed the reminder to quit jam packing my days and rushing around like it all depends on me. If my dependance is on God, I can rest (and work hard) in Him.
Blessings,
Gina
Gina,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Nice thoughts thank you for sharing. Glad to find your blog.
After many years wasted by working frantically to get my checklist completed each day, I’m finally beginning to REALLY getting this lesson down. I still revert back to old habits and must remind myself, but what freedom when I actually walk in His ways and not my own! His yoke is indeed light. I admit I had not thought of it as greedy before reading your post, but I certainly concur!
Noah, I’ve been enjoying your blog for a while now – still reading through all your posts – and this one struck a particular chord with me. As a city office worker I might not seem to have much in common with you, except for my desire to change to homesteading as a way to live closer to God and prepare for missionary work. Rest has always been a particular trial to me. Where energy is concerned, I seem to have not received much. I’m a two-talent or perhaps even one-talent gal compared to others who seem to have SO MUCH MORE energy than I. It means I constantly feel that I’m not achieving much because I need so much rest to replenish the small stores I have. At the same time I realize that the pot cannot contend with the Potter on how He chooses to create us.
I received additional responsibilities at work last week. After just three days of this, I am burnt out. It is a long weekend here in South Africa, which means I am entering my fourth day of simply doing NOTHING because of the burnout. I had had high hopes of this weekend. Certainly not THIS, being too tired or sick to do ANYTHING.
It is clear to me that this job is not in accordance with the natural rhythm of rest and work that God created. But as long as I am required to serve Him in this field, I feel perhaps I need to learn how to balance the energy I expend with the rest I need. (Or perhaps He’s simply waiting for me to see that I am serving in the wrong field.)
I know our worlds are different, but surely on the farm you also enter times of high demand – such as harvest times. How do you deal with that extra *daily* demand for that period, in a Godly way?