Intentional and Timely Preparation
Scripture
Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
Proverbs 20:4 (NIV)
Observation
Solomon’s pithy words of wisdom puts to language common sense living. Many of his metaphors are brilliant and very helpful bringing fresh insight to principles for living a wise and good life. One of these common sense principles is found in this verse. Using the image of a farmer, he teaches that if the farmer does not plow his fields in a timely manner, he will not reap a harvest later. “In Palestine, ploughing is done after the early rains have softened the earth (cf. Psalm 65:10). These rains usually come the latter part of October or the first part of November.”(1) This common sense principle is about the importance of intentional and timely preparation. Plowing comes months before harvest. “Barley harvest is usually in April and May, and wheat harvest in May and June.” This means there are 6 to 8 months between plowing and harvesting. Harvest doesn’t happen by accident. The farmer has no control over the weather or pestilence, but he does have control over preparation. A few verses later, Solomon wrote of this sentiment in Proverbs 21:31 (NIV). “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Likewise the soldier can only ready himself and his horse for the battle through intentional and timely preparation. The victory is in the hands of God. Whether it’s the bounty or lack thereof the harvest or the unknown consequence of the battle, God is sovereign and ultimately is in control of the results. Humans are responsible for the preparation.
Application
In my coaching work with pastors, missionaries and seminary students, this idea of intentional and timely preparation is an issue that comes up regularly. This week, I was coaching a gifted and anointed young pastor who confessed to me that most of his sermons are what we preachers call “Saturday night specials.” Almost all of the women and men I coach struggle with setting aside daily time for union with God and weekly time for Sabbath. Now, I cannot throw stones. I lived most of my 39 years as a local church pastor wrestling with living into these healthy and holy rhythms. I’ve got the t-shirt, coffee cup and bumper sticker on this one. The struggle is real. The “tyranny of the urgent” pushes the “important not urgent” stuff to the back. I have found two practices that have helped me with this ongoing task. First, Stephen Covey helped me decades ago with getting “the big rocks” in my schedule first. Time with God, time for exercise, date night, Sabbath, and message preparation go in first. I would include in this “big rocks” discipline, the planning of vacation and time away with Cheryl, family and friends. This means looking months and even years ahead. This practice continues to serve well even in this season of transition from pastor to coach. Second, one of the newer practices that I found myself moving into the “this you must do” category is a regular scouring over my calendar. Almost daily, I carefully examine my calendar to make sure I have space for preparation, travel to and from events, etc. I also look weeks and months ahead with an eye for conflicts in scheduling and blocking out time for other big events. For example, our granddaughter Zoe’s ten year old trip with Grandma and Grandpa is in the summer of 2025. We blocked these dates out six months ago. Henry Cloud famously say, “You are ridiculously in charge of your life.” I once heard John Ortberg say something like, “You are not the Master of your soul, but you are the Keeper of it.” Taking ownership of intentional and timely preparation for living a wise and good life is my responsibility. I am it’s Keeper.
Prayer
Lord, indeed you are the Master of my life. Once again this morning, I surrender as much of myself as I can to as much of you as I know. Be my Lord, my Savior, my Healer, my Sustainer today. But also give to me spiritual eyes to examine my life well and see it as you do. Help me to intentionally manage the time to have given me so I might live the good and wise life. Amen.
(1) https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/manners/growing-and-harvesting-grain.htm
“Our soul is like a stream of water, which gives strength, direction, and harmony to every other area of our life. When that stream is as it should be, we are constantly refreshed and exuberant in all we do, because our soul itself is then profusely rooted in the vastness of God and his kingdom, including nature; and all else within us is enlivened and directed by that stream. Therefore we are in harmony with God, reality, and the rest of human nature and nature at large.”
One of the best resources on spiritual formation I have ever read and used is John Ortberg’s “Soul Keeping” book and videos. Below is the first of six small group videos he and his team produced. I’d encourage you to buy and read the book.