“The Reckoning of Hands and Heart: Essays on Agriculture, Faith, and the Fight for Rural America” #2
Good morning, No Lack Family!
I know that it has been a couple of months since the last blog but... well life has been life! To say that I have been busy is an understatement. I wear many hats, not just a cowboy hat. I’m active in ministry, a Husband, Father, Farmer and like many also have an off the farm job.
But please don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! In fact, I am grateful for all the opportunities that our Heavenly Father has given me to serve Him.
Slowing down briefly this morning and thinking about the day that lays ahead of me has caused me to realize a few things that I would like to share with you guys today.
First, I truly believe everyone should work on a farm, especially young entrepreneurs. Because there are many lessons that you learn on a farm that can’t really be encompassed in any other sector of business.
Here are just a few.
𝟭. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 & 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲
There’s an endless task list, but if farmers don't complete the most important ones at the right time, they don't reap a harvest at the end of the season.
Proverbs 24:27 – “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.”
𝟮. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀
They are eclectic, moving from agronomy, to engineering, to accounting, to sales & marketing - all before lunch.
Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”
𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺
A long-term plan and strategy are a necessity to their success, not a luxury.
Proverbs 16:9 – “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
𝟰. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼
Showing up every single day is mandatory, no matter the weather or circumstance. The livestock don’t care if you are sick...
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…”
𝟱. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
They know there is a proper time for every task, and they can't rush the seasons.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”
𝟲. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆
Weather, markets, and nature are unpredictable, so farmers learn to adapt quickly rather than complain.
James 4:14–15 – “You do not know what tomorrow will bring… Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”
𝟳. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀
They understand that soil, water, plants, animals, people, and society are interconnected because they depend on them all.
Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.”
𝟴. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
They know that being busy doesn’t equal productivity or a bountiful harvest.
Proverbs 21:5 — “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
𝟵. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆
They know they can’t do everything alone, so they lean on their neighbors and community.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 – “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil… a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
𝟭𝟬. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
They plant today with no immediate reward, trusting for a harvest much later, a rare mindset in our world of instant gratification.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
𝟭𝟭. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸
They measure success not just in profit, but in a lifestyle that roots them in place and meaning.
Proverbs 12:11 – “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”
Did you know that less than 2% of the U.S. population is involved in agriculture and also that the average person is spends 90% of their waking hours indoors.
When I first set down today to write this blog, my intent was to go over some of the mess the cattle industry is in due to corporate greed and political posturing. But after a 2-month hiatus, I didn’t want to start off on that note.
So hopefully, today’s blog gave you something to think about. Everyone isn’t lucky enough to farm or work on a farm, I know, but the facts above can be implemented in most all walks of life. See how many you can implement and if you feel so inclined, I would love to know how it works out for you! And please, If you found value in this blog, share it with others that might also find value in it and ask them to subscribe. After all it’s free and we would love to have them as part of the “No Lack Family”.
Until next time, remember Faith, Family and Farming are what makes life sustainable!
Talk to you again soon!
Kevin
