Norfords' Ramblings

Wednesday July 22, 2009

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. Ecclesiastes 11:6.

Life is fragile, and can be terminated at any time by illness, accident, violence or war. We all have to be prepared for that, although I fear the majority of people aren’t. But it is also true that our financial stability is also just as fragile and can be lost by fraud, theft, economic disaster or foolishness. But one thing is certain, laziness or neglect of working or studying for financial security will surely court disaster. This is just as applicable to ensuring a steady income as saving something for retirement.

Today’s text comes from a mostly agricultural setting, where drought, pestilence or disease could wipe out a crop. Even today, there is no certainty that seed sown today will ripen into a crop later. But, implicit in the text is the notion that not planting seed will guarantee no crop! In fact it suggests, as a point of wisdom, that planting a second crop is a good idea “for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.”

Ultimately, all these things are in the hand of God. Whether our plans fail or succeed is less important than the promise that God will supply all our needs. Mostly he supplies our need through the natural means of diligence and working. While the Bible abhors laziness and commends provision for one’s family, it is the simple prayer, “give us this day our daily bread,” and his promise to supply it, that is our final security.