In 1790, ninety per cent of Americans were farmers, just like most ancient Israelites were. After Israel’s spring harvest, and America’s fall harvest, both usually plowed their fields in the fall, when cold winds began to blow. A farmer who failed to plow in the fall found plowing in Israel’s rainy winter, or in America’s muddy spring, difficult. He could not reasonably expect much of a harvest.
When does a person “plow” in our society? That is, when does someone get ready for planting and reaping? Farm children had to learn to plow fields behind horses (oxen in Israel). American young people have to endure schooling and cultivate self-control – not much more fun than plowing -- in order to be ready when they are grown to reap a salary, or run a business.
Woe to the youngster who will not do his homework or pay attention in class, responding every few minutes to his smart phone’s addictive demand for attention. Are his excuses any more valid than those of a farmer facing the cold and dealing with unruly horses (or oxen)? Listen to the excuses: “It’s too hard,” “It’s boring,” “I don’t like my teacher,” “My teacher doesn’t like me,” “Sitting at a desk all day is unnatural,” “The other girls are mean to me” – all of them often enough true.
As my mother once breezily said to a worried school guidance counselor about a son whose standardized psychological test revealed that he hated school: “Oh? I always thought it was perfectly normal not to like school.” But put off plowing, refuse to learn in school or cultivate self-discipline, envy the neighbor with stronger horses (or oxen), be jealous of the smart kid who gets it (or seems to) without trying, and it will be that much harder to earn a salary or run a business as an adult. No schooling in youth means little reaping as an adult, since low-wage jobs or no job at all await the uneducated. Thirty-year olds with little education rarely catch up.
Is this a spiritual proverb? It requires no spiritual insight to know its truth. No work, no food. When our oldest two children were not yet six, they helped our neighbor weed her large vegetable garden. It was not fun, as they often informed us, but we ate from that garden, as they knew, so we rightly helped to weed it. The Bible calls those who refuse to work unless they “want to,” or find it “fulfilling,” sluggards. It predicts a hungry future for them. Farmers have to plow in the fall, and youngsters have to “plow” in today’s world by getting an education. Only then can both expect a harvest.
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Dr. Bill Edgar, former chair of the Geneva College Board of Trustees, former Geneva College President and longtime pastor in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA)
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Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Feb 1, 2019
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan of Reformed Theological Seminary delivered the spring 2021 Commencement address at Geneva College on May 10, 2021. Here is an excerpt of that message, entitled, "Every Good Work," from 2 Timothy 3. This excerpt first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Geneva Magazine.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
As busy as college students are, it can be profoundly beneficial for them to seek out and engage in a routine Bible study. Diving deeper into their faith, exploring what the world’s challenges mean to them, and creating a Christian-based path forward can give any college student the direction he or she needs to achieve their best life. Still, it’s not always easy to make that decision—instead of a night with friends or yet another study session for a high-level math class, go to Bible study instead.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What should someone with wealth do? Solomon writes, “Pay attention to it and know its condition.” He uses the example of sheep and goats. Wise parents blessed with wealth will teach their children how to work to maintain it. Wise children will accept the burdens of responsibility that go with family wealth, always remembering that riches do not last forever.
The Book of Proverbs has no use for the gullible, viewing them as willful fools. Even when everyone else can see a hateful, deceitful person for what he is, the gullible choose to believe gracious words.
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
How should leaders deal with difficult situations in difficult times? Geneva College’s John Gallo and Jenna Bieber provide a guidebook for leaders. "Lessons from Cain and Abel to Guide Leaders Through Turbulent Times" walks readers through the account of Cain and Abel to teach leaders the importance of justice, mercy, harmony and equality.
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