Work in Season – Proverbs in Practice
We live in a time and place, former procrastinators, where we can enjoy apples all year, bananas when we want them, bread from a package at our convenience. Thanks to some farming methods and worldwide shipping today, it’s a little harder for some of us to grasp the impact of seasons.
The agrarian society in the time of Proverbs understood the significance of working in season. Don’t do it and you miss out. The principle still applies.
“He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” Proverbs 10:5
God in His wisdom established the four seasons. Their characteristics make each good for part of the farming process. Roughly, spring is soil prep and planting, summer is maintenance and watering, fall is harvest and fall planting, winter is waiting while snow waters what’s underground and the farmer repairs equipment.
There’s a suitable time to work in other areas, too. Often we don’t get to determine when that is. We have to seize the opportunity when we have it. Sometimes no time seems suitable. That means we should get on the job right away because there is little opportunity to begin with and things could easily get tighter in our schedules.
We’re tempted to think “There’s not enough time now. I’d better wait until my schedule opens up and then work on this project.” Oops. Better to begin even if things are not optimal. Make a little progress and return when able. In a sense, it’s not a good time to cut yourself slack – or you may end up being slack.
The prudent son recognizes these things. He’s careful in handling practical matters. He shows wisdom by working in season – when the job is best done. He has a harvest to show for it.
The other son is sleeping at harvest time. Is that because he failed to work in season, and therefore, has nothing to harvest? Or is he too lazy to take advantage of the harvest that is ready? Does he allow his crop to rot in the field? Either way, he is not practical in how he deals with his responsibilities.
Does he expect to eat the wheat or buy goods with money from the sale of it? “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Pretty practical.
The reference to “son” reminds us how necessary it is to train our children in these things too. As adults, they’ll make their own choices, but we must teach them – or share the shame neglect brings. Proverbs reminds us that natural consequences are a great teaching tool.
Since I’m in charge of feeding my household, I can cook ahead before the extra busy days in the week.
A son or daughter may prefer biology, but studies first for tomorrow’s English test.
The prudent son works in season and has what he needs; the lazy one does not.
Recall a time when you seized an inconvenient opportunity to work and ended up grateful.
