Cultivating the Next Generation
How often do we equate what we do, or what we fail to do, with the next generation? We live in a world that consumes itself with the matters of the day, hardly giving thought of the seeds and saplings that we have planted. Unlike wise farmers, we have sowed our children into fields filled with weeds and corrupt soil. Worst than that, we have left the fields unattended and allowed the soil to be further tainted with the world’s pollution.
When I was in my freshman year in college, I was invited to stay the weekend with some friends who lived on a farm. Not only did they have acres of planted crops, but also had a number of diary cows. We spent Friday riding four-wheelers late into the night. When my head hit the pillow after midnight, I was ready for a good night sleep. Unfortunately, my sleep was abruptly interrupted by my friend vigorous shaking. As I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, that displayed 4:00 AM, I quickly surmised that the house must be on fire. Instead, what I heard was, “Joe, it’s time to milk the cows.” My comment without thinking was, “Let the cows milk themselves.” I can still see my friends’ grins as they dragged me out of bed. Trust me, when it came time to head back to school, I was ready for another weekend.
I must admit, I learned a lot that weekend about my friends’ family and what it takes to be a successful farmer. Most significantly, I was amazed at the life-long discipline involved. Unlike the 9 to 5 job, farming was a way of life; it (farming) defined what the farmer did almost every hour of each day. Like farmers, men have been given a plot of land to cultivate—their families. And fortunately for farmers and men, we have been given helpers to assist in getting the job done. Know this, apart from Christ Himself, your relationship with your wife, holds one of the greatest potential influencers on your children. Whether we acknowledge it or not, our families and future crops (generations) will be directly impacted by what we do and how we do it—365 days a year. Given the utmost importance of our task, you would think we would approach our job, as leaders in our homes, with the same determination and vigor as farmers caring for their land. Yet, do we?
Do we daily work with our wives to cultivate the soil that nourishes our children’s growing hearts? Psalm 78 communicates clearly the need for parents, especially fathers, to teach our children about the awesome God we serve. As a farmer toils over his land, we too, are called to tend to the spiritual needs of our family. And just like farmers, what we sow—we will reap.
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers”
Galatians 6:7-8
How many farmers have you met that had crops fail or livestock die because of a lack of planning or due to insufficient effort? Likely, not many. How much more important is our family? When was the last time you dedicated a day to pray and plan for the spiritual welfare of your family? When I worked for a Fortune 500 company, we would literally spend weeks, if not an entire quarter on planning. We had a mission, and everything we did needed to support our mission. If it didn’t, we asked ourselves, “Why are we doing this?” Should we not be asking this same question regarding the how we lead our family? Like farming, everything we did, or didn’t do in the business environment had an impact on the bottom line. Is it any different with our family?
Men, I implore you to stop right now…and commit to spending two hours this week evaluating where God has your family. Most importantly, are you leading your home in a way that communicates to your family your commitment to God? Are you leading in a way that touches the next generation, let alone, the generation yet to be born? If you fail to plan; you will plan to fail. You will reap what you sow.
Picture this: It is a few weeks before harvest time for the old farmer. He leans against the wooden post. It has been another long day. Yet, as the sweat beads slide down his sun-wrinkled face, he sighs and takes one last glimpse at his field. There have been some long days and sleepless nights. Yet, he smiles—knowing that he has given his best…it is in God’s hands—as it always has.
We can only do what we can do. The question becomes: Are we doing all we can do—
the way God wants us to do it? Only you can answer that question. Like the farmer, you are responsible for the caretaking of your crops; knowing they are really His crops. Unlike the farmer’s produce, God’s crops are eternal; what you do will have an impact—one way or another.
- How are they growing?
- Are you cultivating the soil they are growing in?
- Are there any weeds or pollutants in the soil?
- Do you regularly evaluate and plan how to best water God’s crops?
- Do you love the helper God has given you?
- Do your children regularly see and hear God’s Word lived out in your home?
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow…The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field…”
1 Corinthians 3:6, 8-9