The Wicket Gate

Hey O! This week we will be discussing chapter seventeen of Don’t Waste Your Breath
by Brian Borgman, which covers Ecclesiastes 11:1-6. We will establish rightly ordered
affections (toward God), pursuit and use of God’s financial and material blessings on
earth to glorify God. Some of my comments will follow the text and others are thoughts
about money and work that came to mind.

“Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies. He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.” Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 NASB95

Borgman starts the chapter with a long quote from Rigney’s Strangely Bright,
which hits the nail on the head regarding this chapter. Forgive if previous blog posts
seem to cover the same material. It is worth repeating. God’s gracious blessings, times
where we win, whether small or great should direct our mind and soul to worship Him.
Times where we win, let’s be honest on how we define this- when we get paid! Lol, we may work jobs by the hour, by the month, by the year, on commission, by the project, or tips, but in all cases, funds allow us to take care of our bills and other things. I will be candid, getting paid is a joy of earth.

However we must remember from previous compositions, getting paid is not an
end unto itself. There are many ways we can disorder the win of earning money. Some
may be so discontent that getting paid is the only release, disorder from the sense that
the work or relationships within work have overshadowed or blocked the view of God’s
glory. I don’t mean to discredit anyone having real work issues, I have heard or dealt
with directly with as a manager many difficult situations, almost every workplace has
some level of disfunction. Christians are called to be a light, being that light is reflecting
God’s glory, reflecting God’s glory comes from staying with our spiritual disciplines. The
more we deepen our dependence on Christ, the more we submit to Him, and the more
we practice the presence of God in all we do the more content we become. That Godly
contentment beats back the clouds, creates within us a deep appreciation for the funds
we have and makes us joyful to be able to take care of our families. Even in seasons
where coworkers or managers are darkening the skies. Staying within ourselves and
our relationship with Christ takes practice and the Spirit.

This ability is one few can use right out of the regenerate gate. “I am working for the Lord” is our aim in all of our interactions, even with individuals who will not change. Pray for these individuals! They may end up being part of God’s plan, allowing that thorn in your side, but you don’t know that, so prayer and patience are the path. Don’t let your work environment dim the blessing of getting paid.

Your salvation, the Trinitarian Fulness of God, and all that He has done for you so far should generate thankfulness and gratitude for your ability to care for yourself and your family independent of how much you currently are earning. Following along this thought of adversity at work is the need for Christian compartmentalization, not that we should not be like Christ in the workplace or share the gospel when God provides opportunity, but that we should leave work at work. On your ride home give it to God- pray, take a deep breath, use your memory verses, listen to a sermon or podcast on the way home, count your many blessings out loud, and enjoy time at home, church, or other activities. I would also say keep home at home.

Bringing home issues into work creates work issues that cause problems at home-
creating a vicious cycle. Disclaimer: I am not therapist, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn,
this is just my experience. Enjoy God’s financial blessings as a result of God blessing
you with work to accomplish and the ability to fulfill its demands. Enjoy work!

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6: 25-34

A second way financial blessings become disordered is wild unending pursuit of
money without God’s glory as it’s aim. This may be out of fear that the blessings will
cease to exist, or a desire to leave a legacy- both of which we have already discussed.
The Teacher is relatively clear, when opportunities are presented to earn money we
sometimes need to rightly discern and pursue them and we should take care of our
families. Taking care of our families does include setting aside savings, preparing for
times of famine that will come. The disorder is pursuit out of fear, even when driven by
envy. Envy and jealousy drive man to seek more and more, only limited by hours in the

day and physical breakdown. When done solo this leaves the family missing the
member in pursuit of money. So many movies where the plot involves a man or woman
that poorly prioritizes family or loved ones, by the climax the disordered pursuer reaches
bottom then reorders his or her life in a heartwarming moment. Many Christians have
found themselves at the same bottom. Temptation allowed so that he/she may realize
how unfulfilling money, power, or professional fame truly can be. Before I go further, I
am seeking to establish our pursuit of God glorifying balance, not make a case for not
using the ability God has given to provide and protect ourselves, churches, and families.
In other words we need to work, but as Ecclesiastes has already established, it is work
with a view to God’s glory and our place in creation. Going backwards a little, when we
try to build ourselves a life like we see on social media or perhaps what our neighbor
has, we begin to create a need for money that we may not always have. Fear is the fruit
when we take our eyes off godly contentment. Money becomes the goal to quell the
fear, that may be more jobs or more time spent at work. I am not speaking of those
seasons where more money is needed because of unexpected bills, for example
medical bills or repairs. The need to have a house, cars, toys, or clothes that looks a
certain way to satisfy the human desire to appear above our station or to feel the
purchasing high are some of the sources of increased need for money. Careful patience
and prayer, to repeat myself our spiritual disciplines are key to quelling disordered
desire. We should seek to provide a home or dwelling in safety for our families, good
healthy food, reliable transport, and appropriate clothing; anything more should be
carefully thought out. When we approach money with godly contentment, we end up
with money to save for times when business is bad, and less budget stress from month
to month. More money may solve all our problems but if our desires are disordered, we
will always run out and even if it does not run out it will never satisfy.

“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their
hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

We should save for uncertainty on earth, and we should also invest and diversify
the ways we bring in funds. This includes investing in businesses, taking side jobs, and
perhaps even investing in the stock market. This is not a financial blog so I should not
give investing advice to anyone (see above disclaimer), but we should seek to increase
that which the Lord has given us. This is not a call to make risky or hasty investments or
to gamble, rather take time and make wise decisions when the Lord presents
opportunities. Christians should set the goal to manage money with a goal to not live

paycheck to paycheck or dependent on one job. Remember though, this may happen
over the course of years, or it could happen overnight, remaining steadfast balanced in
the long run but remaining open to opportunities.

“Wealth obtained from nothing dwindles,

But one who gathers by labor increases it.” Proverbs 13:11 NASB 95

I may have already hit this earlier, but we should keep a loose grip on the things
of earth. Stuff will happen! The sovereign hand of God ordains the wind to take out our
fence and slam it into our car or we may suffer sickness that leads to continual medical
bills, take time enjoy God’s blessings in the moment because moments of trial will
come. There may be years we feel like we can’t get ahead because we keep getting
behind, keep sight of Christ and count the many blessings he continues to provide.
Every breath, each moment with family, each opportunity to earn money, every moment
of your arms and legs and on and on. He gives us all and apart from Him we can do
nothing. So we need not worry about or fear the future. Give it to God and Enjoy what is
in front of you!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys,
and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters; for either
he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and
despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:19-

21,24 NASB 95

Along the same line the Teacher encourages us to get out and work, so don’t
procrastinate or find reasons not to accomplish the tasks ahead. This is not
encouragement to habitually skip time with family to finish work. It is encouragement to
get going and stay on task, stay organized and on purpose, glorifying God by diligently
working. Take care not to become lazy, but don’t forget to take time to rest. Maybe even
more than this, improve and excel in what you do, become efficient, get certified, train
others to be excellent, and on and on. Working as though you are working for the Lord,
who sent His Son that you might have eternal life in paradise – to be direct work as for

though you are working for the one who has given you life, breath, ability, faith, and
endurance.

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks

through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 NASB 95

Last, we do not know the work of God so be prepared and trust in Him. We don’t
know which way He will cause the wind to blow or the tree to fall. In my line of work as a
chicken farmer I have dealt with the cloud of Avian Influenza hovering over. I have many
times allowed this ominous cloud to rob me of the joy that comes from stewarding God’s
creatures. I have often times held too loosely the blessing of stewarding God’s
creatures. Avian Influenza is a virus that we are not allowed to vaccinate for, so the
animals are susceptible to the disease year around. Wild birds and other disease
vectors are a constant threat to the flock and by extension our collective ability to feed
several dozen families, my own included. Avian Influenza is a virus that rapidly spreads,
so to protect other poultry in the area the flock must be depopulated within 72 hours. All
our chickens, ducks, geese, and guineas gone and buried in a few days. Fear abounds.
Yet it should lead me to completely rely on God, cast my cares on Him, and thank him
for every egg, every beautify morning, and for every task that is set forth for the care of
the creatures. Sometimes the Lord gives me something else to think on for a while. For
example last week one of our houses had half its roof ripped off in high winds. We had
to focus on rehousing almost four thousand chickens and all the tasks associated. We
then had to focus on getting the rest of the roof off and managing the damage to the
remaining portion of the house. Praise God that the chickens without a roof for a few
hours did not get sick, and for the workers that helped move the chickens. All that to say
I didn’t think about AI for a few days and that we need to stay diligent and in the
moment. Don’t let fear cloud your joy at work, keep an eye on the big picture and yet
stay in the moment. Thank you Lord for continuing to protect the creatures you have
made us stewards over, for giving us an understanding of how to protect and care for
them, and for the means and ability to act on that understanding. Amen.
Be thankful and steadfast where the Lord has placed you and keep your eyes
open for other ways to provide for your family. Joy in the Lord when you get paid!
Carefully steward the funds that you have been given by the Lord, steward with an aim
to glorify Him through what he has provided, do all with a thankful heart. The scriptures
make it clear we deserve nothing, keep that in mind, and your lot may be rough, but I
can assure you that you are blessed exceedingly if we begin looking through history and
compare. We are in the last few weeks of this study/book review of Ecclesiastes, I
appreciate your patience as I do get busy sometimes and forget to finish writings that I
start. We all need to get back to work! Lol.