by Robert C. Veil, Jr.
Over the years, I have been involved in starting many tasks or projects on the farm, some of which
have been substantial in size and scope. Years ago we purchased an adjoining 17-acre parcel, and
I remember the task of getting it into shape for crop production. There were arrangements for
spraying, plowing the entire field, disking, and, finally, planting. We had to identify the best crop
for which the field was suited. The right seed had to be selected and purchased. It took a lot of help
from people who were knowledgeable with their particular aspect of the project, and we had to
find those people.
Church work is similar. In fact, as I considered writing this article, the similarities became
very striking, and I thought it would be helpful to share some of these lessons as we launch into a
new year, filled with projects and tasks we hope to accomplish for the Lord.
- With any worthwhile project, there is a great deal of careful prayer and planning
which must be done initially. Many church programs fail because the actual program is launched
into before the “field is prepared.” Preparation pays big dividends. In His parables, Jesus
emphasized the importance of advance planning and counting the cost. “For which of you, desiring
to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete
it? Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to
mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish,” (Luke 14:28-30). Think
it through, and pray about it first. - It is always best to build upon work previously done by others. For example, we asked
questions like What was the 17 used for previously? Had a similar project ever been attempted
before? Which crops have been successfully grown there in the past? This type of thinking helped
us to avoid “reinventing the wheel.” In the church, many of the new ideas for programs of work
are not really new. In fact, it turns out that many of the components for the program are already in
place if we will only take time to look for them.
When the apostle Paul entered the work at Corinth, he understood the importance of the work
of others. “I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase,” (1 Corinthians 3:6). He made
a deliberate effort to understand the work others have done, or were doing, and he valued it highly.
He worked in cooperation with them, not in isolation. When we begin a work, we would do well
to look around and see who is already doing aspects of that work, and appreciate the value of what
they are doing, seeking their cooperation. Consider approaching them personally, sitting down
with them and seeking their input and suggestions. The work of the Lord is not a competition, but
a field of fellowship and joint labor. - Top quality tools, and materials help to ensure success. In crop production, it pays to
use high-quality seed, and prepare the field with well-maintained machinery which operates
correctly, even if it is a bit more expensive. It is best to use fresh and effective spray, so that the
job gets done right the first time. Similarly, in the church, the seed we should be using is the word
of God — pure and unadulterated. There are many high-quality supportive materials and tools
which can help us preach and teach that word, but we must never stint on the purity of the seed
itself. - Factor the setbacks into your plans. I remember a weather-related time crunch, which
required the plowing of the 17 to begin a bit early. I was nervous about it, but those kinds of
adjustments should be expected. In the church, there will be required changes to the plan as we
proceed. Don’t get too wedded to an artificial timetable. Remember, the Lord works on His clock,
not necessarily on ours. As the beloved Leonard Johnson used to tell us in class at Freed-
Hardeman, “Hope for the best—prepare for the worst!”
