Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

I did a walk with Becki this morning. With as much tall grass as we have around here now, it’s easier for the dogs to lose balls. So they did.

We did a very irregular thing on Sunday. We decided to do a long drive to our one-acre lot in La Pine—about 365 miles round trip. We actually attended a little church along the way that was a very unique experience—a church like no other. Our main objective at that property was to dig down about a foot to inspect the septic tank to determine whether it is steel or concrete. Good news—it’s concrete! A steel one would need to be replaced by current regulations. Concrete is OK to stay. There was a discrepancy in the documents that we turned up. One said “steel” while another said “concrete.” We needed to know what it is before attempting any further development.

Another day is in front of us with a huge list of needs. Very likely, you are so afflicted. Let’s simply do our best to persevere with seeking and trusting the One Who holds tomorrow. That’s exactly what James advises.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Can you imagine a farmer who plants alfalfa in his fields in the spring, but then changes his mind a few weeks later, plows up his fields and plants corn?! Then a couple weeks later, he hears that the market price for mint is up very high, so he plows up his fields again and plants mint. That’s crazy! By that time he would just about be guaranteed of not having any profitable crop at all! He certainly could not survive as a successful farmer. This guy’s actions would be even more ludicrous if he began to boast around town about the yacht he was going to buy with the huge profits from his mint crop!

James gives us a terrific lesson in life and godliness, pointing out that we are all like farmers. In the fields of our future we plant ideas, plans, hard work, and the Gospel. But we are as powerless to make those seeds grow to maturity and success as the farmer is powerless to force his crops to yield. He does what he can, and leaves what he can’t to God. James declares that it’s all a matter of determining a course (what is good and important), being patient, and standing firm. It’s all linked to the quality of perseverance.

Two more examples of patience, perseverance, and standing firm are given in this passage. There are the prophets. “Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered” (vv. 10-11). Then there is the example of Job. “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (v. 11).

One little phrase in verse 7 catches my attention: “…the farmer waits.” It prompts my thinking back to the word “wait” as used in the King James Version of Isaiah 40:31. “But they that WAIT upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”. What a promise! But it certainly does not convey the idea of waiting as one does in a long line at the bank, but WAITING as a clerk or waiter does with a customer. A good waiter understands that his function is to serve and please. If you and I, like the farmer, like the waiter, will WAIT on the Lord in this sense, a good crop is guaranteed. (Consider Romans 8:28 and Galatians 6:9 again.)

Let’s conclude by giving attention to a familiar passage in Psalm 37. It comes to mind as good supportive material for our reading in James. “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:3-5, KJV).