Proverbs 24:27. “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house.”
TIMING. The fields are fallow and untouched the - sky is red in the evening – The foundation is laid ready for the walls - building materials lie in piles – The seed is ready, winnowed twice and is clean ready for planting – The family sleeps soundly and well fed in a temporary shelter – What is a man to do?
The machinery lies idle waiting to be used to plow and plant – The tools are there ready to be picked up to build the walls and roof – The sun rises in the east and the fields lay waiting to be stirred – Light shines across the unfinished building project that is undone – What should I do first?
The field needs sun and rain, instant, hands-on attention and long anticipation – The house needs labor and skill, each individual piece needs my hands – The field may or may not produce a crop, my labor may seem wasted – The house will be closer to completion with each day’s effort – no wasted labor – Which one is a priority?
The field needs the warmth and damp – and my labor – and most of all, God – The house needs my mind, my skill, my labor, my attention – The field will provide for me food, finances, raiment, provisions – The house will provide for me shelter, comfort, pleasure, family contentment – Why should I not build first?
The field will be a source of life to me for its fruitfulness comes from God – The house will be a source of pleasure and pride to me for I built it with my hands – Each one has a place and purpose to fulfill and in each one I have a work to do – The stewardship that depends on God for ultimate success has the priority – “Do your work in the field – afterward build your house!”
“The fields are ripe, ready to harvest around me Father God, and other fields lie fallow without being disturbed by the message of the Gospel. I find it a concern today as to whether I should be putting the effort into harvesting as we are seeking to do here and now, or should I be promoting the tillage of new ground by committing myself to assisting strong young men in the outreach of the Gospel. If there is some area of outreach I can be involved in, in the year ahead, I would like to be ready and available and I will wait upon Thee for this. Meanwhile Father, bless this effort in the salvation of souls and the one we will soon be involved with in St. John’s. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”