Till Then

(Proverbs 12:11 KJV)  He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

I start looking at what I know about history and farming when I read something like this.  The people of Solomon’s time were mainly farmers.  That condition continued up to the industrial revolution and beyond.  In 1790 about 90% of Americans were on farms.  In 1987 it was 2%.  Up until modern times the vast majority of people would understand this.  The reference to bread is important because it underlines that this is talking about the basic farmer who grows grain.  Although I found some reference to tilling in vineyards and orchards it doesn’t seem to be a big factor.

This is telling us that there are certain basics in life that demand our attention.  Each of us has some area that could be considered “his land”.  There are ingredients to life that would be considered “bread” (3899).  Much of those foundational ingredients are consistent to all of us.  Some kind of work is required.  Attention to family is important.  Civic responsibility is expected. 

So?  Although we can dream and pursue our dreams we are expected to take care of the basics of life first.  Too many people today think that the government or their parents will take care of them while they become something great.  It may work for a few but it is not the Biblical model.  Get a job before you try to change the world.