Fear and Missed Opportunities:
A Sermon for the New Year
A Sermon Preached by Rev. S. Randall Toms, Ph. D.
On January 3, 2010
At St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, LA
He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. (Eccl. 11:4)
The year 2009 has come and gone. I suppose we always have mixed emotions at this time of year. It is a time of regret because as we look back over the past year, we wish that we had done many things that we failed to do. We think back on some of the New Year’s resolutions that we made at this time last year and realize that we broke them within days or weeks of having made them. Then, there are those regrets we experience because we did so many things in 2009 that we wish we had not done. We have sinned against the Lord in so many ways. We have hurt people, said things we shouldn’t have said, and caused pain and unhappiness even in those we love most. As we examine ourselves at this time of year, I am sure that each of us can look back upon the past year with some regret. In the words of our confession of sin, we can look back over 2009 and say, “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.”
But there is something about the approach of a new year which also fills us with hope. There is something about the beginning of new year that leads us to say,“I can make a fresh start. No matter what may have been true of me in the past, this year it will be different.” We begin to make resolutions, and we start the year with a strong determination to do those things in 2010 which ought to be done.
Yet, we know that there will be many things that prevent us from doing what we know should be done. Some of us have particular kinds of personalities that prevent us from carrying out our plans. Some of us procrastinate—we put things off until we even forget we were so determined to do them. Some of us get depressed and discouraged and finally throw up our hands in despair and say, “What’s the use.” The wise man in our text before us this morning describes another kind of person who fails to get much done. In the King James it reads, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” I am sure that this verse was a well-known proverb in Solomon’s day. You have probably said the same thing from time to time, you just didn’t put it in exactly these words. What Solomon has in mind is this: There is a farmer and the time has come to plant his crop, to sow his seed. He says, “I had better plant my crop.” But then he looks outside and sees the wind blowing, and he says to himself, “Oh, that wind coming up like that might mean the rain is on its way. I had better not try to plant that crop today.” Or, perhaps it is the time of year for harvesting the crop. The farmer makes up his mind that this is the day to bring the crop in; but just as he walks outside, he looks up, and there are some clouds. He says to himself, “Well, I had better not try to pick those crops. Those clouds look like a storm may come.” For fear of a possible storm, he never harvests the crop.
I think you can see the obvious meaning of the proverb. If you keep putting things off because of the prospect of some future trouble, you will never do anything. Today’s English Version translates this verse, “If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything.” Solomon is not saying that you should disregard the wind and the clouds entirely. If the sky is covered with black clouds, lightning flashing everywhere, and it’s certain that this approaching storm will prevent you from sowing or reaping, or perhaps even destroy the work you put into the sowing or reaping, then obviously, it is not the time——you should wait. But Solomon is warning us that many people let the possibility of future trouble prevent them from doing those things which ought to be done. If we stand back and magnify every little difficulty, imagine the worst that could happen, just because there is the possibility of trouble ahead, we will never accomplish anything. This fear of the possibility of future difficulties will paralyze you and prevent you from doing those things which are good and necessary.
We must realize that no matter what good work we begin to do, there is always the possibility of future problems and obstacles. No matter what area of life you look at, there is always the possibility of crises ahead. Many people won’t take a job or a promotion to a new job because of the possibility of future trouble. I remember once when I was out it the work-a-day world that I had an opportunity for a promotion to a job I really wanted. But many people began to come to me and say, “I wouldn’t take it if I were you. It’s a boring job. You won’t like your supervisor. You won’t like the people you will have to work with every day.” I listened to all that negative advice and turned down the job because of the possibility of future problems. Later on, that opportunity came again. This time, I wouldn’t be persuaded by the people around me, and I took that job. All of those terrible things that people said might happen to me never did. But I had let the possibility of those troubles deter me from taking that job. Many people live their whole lives not taking advantage of opportunities because of the possibility of trouble ahead. They are afraid to take a job or start a business, because the economic prognosticators have told them of trouble down the road. In our own current financial climate, it is possible to imagine all kinds of terrible scenarios in the next few years. Some people allow the fear of that possible trouble to prevent them from accomplishing anything. But as I say, there is the possibility of future trials and tribulations no matter what you do, even when the prospects for the future look brightest. Even if it looked as though the prospects for the future seemed to offer no hindrances or obstacles, there is always the possibility for disaster, accidents, and unforeseen problems.
People can let the fear of the future prevent them from doing things that may actually be the path to much happiness. Some people are afraid to get married because of the possibility of future trouble. A young, single man gets up one day, picks up the newspaper, and reads the latest statistics that over half of all marriages now end in divorce. He reads how many people engage in extramarital affairs. He looks around and sees in many marriages nothing but fighting, bickering, and all of the pressures and trials that married life can bring. After surveying the current status of marriage in this country, he may conclude, “Oh no, not me. I’m not going to get married because I don’t want to wind up in a divorce court. I don’t want to ruin a good relationship by getting married. All married people do is fight, and that might be the way my marriage would end.” Such a person allows the possibility of trouble to prevent him from marrying.
The very act of following Jesus Christ is also one of those areas where many people give up before they get started, simply because of the possibility of future trials. When people first begin to consider whether or not to follow Christ, he doesn’t tell them that there is a possibility of future trouble if they follow him. He guarantees them that there will be trouble in the future. He doesn’t conceal this hard truth from would-be disciples. Jesus said in Luke 12:51-53, “ Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” In John 15:19 he said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” If you want all people to love you and speak well of you, don’t become a disciple of Christ. Your future will be filled with people hating you because of your stand for Christ and his truth.
No matter what you are planning to do in the future, I assure you, that if you think long and hard enough about it, you will think of something that could go wrong. There will always be an ominous wind beginning to blow. There will be threatening clouds lurking on the horizon. But there are many reasons why we must not allow the prospect of trouble to stop us from boldly taking advantage of future opportunities.
First, many times the trouble we fear never comes. Our Lord told us not be anxious about tomorrow. One day’s trouble, this day’s trouble is sufficient for one day without imagining all of the trouble which may come upon us in the future.
Second, fearing possible trouble in the future will cause us to become idle. As a matter of fact, many of our so–called “fears of the future” are nothing but excuses for laziness and idleness. We are too lazy to do what we know we should, but we disguise our laziness under the cover of being practical. Perhaps the farmer in our text is just a lazy farmer looking for an excuse.
I remember that there was once a group of men who worked in the area where I grew up. They worked outside where you could see them. Sometimes you would pass where they were supposed to be working, and they wouldn’t be there. My dad had a saying about these men: “If one drop of rain hits them, that’s the Lord’s fault. If two drops of rain hit them, that’s their own fault.” They certainly weren’t going to stay around and see if the rain might stop. They were gone at the first sight of rain. Many men can relate to that attitude. The weatherman can say there is 90% chance of rain, black clouds filling the sky, but we will try to get in a few w holes of golf. However, if we see a distant thunderhead on some far horizon, that is good enough reason to put off mowing the yard for one more day. Whether or not it is a real fear of the future or just a convenient excuse, the result is the same—idleness. And the work which should have been done is left undone.
Third, we should not allow the prospect of trouble to stop us from taking advantage of opportunities because of all the joy we will miss if we allow the possibility of trouble to keep us from sowing and reaping.
For example, most of the prophets of doom will be telling people that right now would be one of the worst times to try any type of business venture. But I will guarantee you that someone with zeal, thought, and imagination will disregard those forecasts and make a fortune during this time of economic instability, while others will be paralyzed by this fear. Others will sow and reap while others will regret that they didn’t sow. Joy awaits those who will sow and reap even though there is a possibility of trouble or disaster.
What if every woman decided that she should would have no children because the prospect of future trouble loomed before her. Just think of everything that a woman must endure to bring a child into this world: the morning sickness, the backaches, cramps, and fatigue. Then, there’s the birth process itself. When a woman decides that she wants a baby, she is exposing herself to future trouble, more in some cases than others. What wouldd make a woman go through all trouble to have a baby? Our Lord Jesus Himself tells us why a woman will endure such discomfort and anguish. In John 16:21 he said, “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.” Yes, there is sorrow and anguish connected with childbirth, and the woman knows that is what she will face when her hour has come, but she is willing to endure it because the joy of bringing that child into the world is far greater than the sorrow and anguish which preceded it. If women weren’t willing to face future sorrow and anguish, they would miss the joy of holding that little child in their arms and knowing the love that only a mother can know. How foolish it would be to give up this joy because there was future trouble involved.
The same is true of the difficulties involved in the Christian life. Some of you remember that in Pilgrim’s Progress, Pliable is not sure that he wants to begin this journey to the Celestial City because he has heard about all the hardships that one encounters on the way. But Christian tells Pliable,
There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom forever. There are crowns of glory to be given us, and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven. There shall be no more crying, nor sorrow: for He that is owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look on them. There also you shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none of them but loving and holy; everyone walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence with acceptance forever. In a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns, there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps, there we shall see men that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love that they bear to the Lord of the place, all well, and clothed with immortality as a garment.
Yes, there is a prospect of future trouble, but who in his right mind would let that stand in his way of possessing the place that Christian describes. When Moses was leading the children of Israel, he had many difficulties, but he kept his eye on the prize at the end of the journey: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward” (Heb. 12:24-26). Even our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to endure all the pain and agony he suffered because of the reward that awaited him: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). In Pilgrim’s Progress, when the world tries to discourage Christian from beginning his journey to the Celestial City, he sticks his fingers in his ears and cries, “Eternal life, eternal life!” Yes, there are dark clouds on the horizon, but what are those troubles compared to the joy which is set before us. As Matthew Henry said,
The discouragements we meet with in these duties are but as winds and clouds, which do us no harm, and which those that put on a little courage and resolution will despise and easily break through. Those that will be deterred and driven off by small and seeming difficulties from great and real duties will never bring anything to pass in religion, for there will always arise some wind, some cloud or other, at least in our imagination to discourage us. Winds and clouds are in God’s hands, are designed to try us, and our Christianity obliges us to endure hardness.
To the Christian, I might also ask, “How many times have we been disobedient to the commands of our Lord because we saw trouble ahead?” Haven’t we argued with God’s leading and dealing with us because of the prospect of future trouble? But some disregard all of these worries about future trouble and obey God, because of the promise of Holy Scripture, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).
Our church faces the question of whether we will embrace future opportunities or allow the fear of possible trouble to discourage us from attempting anything. God is going to present us with many challenges in the days ahead. As we look at these challenges, one of the temptations will be to stop going forward and say, “Yes, it would be good to do those things, but what if something goes wrong?” Let us not let the fear of something going wrong in the future prevent us from doing what God has led us to do. If we let our fears of the future hinder us, there are so many things that we would miss. I think back on the time when we started this church. Whenever you think of starting a new work like this, you can imagine all sorts of things that can go wrong. Churches split all of the time. People leave for no good reason. Whenever I thought of starting this congregation I thought I knew every reason a person could have for leaving a church, but since being here I have become acquainted with new reasons that people have. Then you have to consider that it’s a possibility that a conservative, liturgical church will never grow. Doctrinally conservative churches grow. Liberal liturgical churches grow. But doctrinally conservative, liturgical churches? Well, that’s another matter. If we look at a small congregation such as ours, we are faced with the possibility that if we lose just a few families, we can’t make it financially. If we had let the possibility of trouble stop us, we would have never begun this work. What would have happened if we had let those fears of future problems stop us from organizing this church? We would have missed all of the spiritual joys we have had in the past seven years: the fellowship of godly people; the prayer times we have had together; the joy of children and babies who have become members of Christ; the joy of worshiping in the way that we believe God has ordained. We would have missed all of those things if we had let the wind and the clouds discourage us. As we go into the future, let us be willing to make the same bold moves, not letting the fear of what could happen hold us back from doing the will of God.
As we look back over the past year, let me ask you, “What could you have done in 2009 that you did not do because the clouds and wind–because the prospect of trouble ahead held you back. What is the Lord leading you to do, but you are afraid because of possibility that danger or turmoil may be awaiting you if you do so?” If you allow the fear of possible trouble to control you, you will come to the end of your life full of regret. 2009, 2008, 2007, and all the years before are gone. You will never have them again, and some of you let them slip away, not doing what God has commanded because you were afraid of future trouble.
The danger that this farmer faced in our text was that he would keep putting off sowing and reaping until the right time for sowing and reaping had passed away. Some of you are making the same mistake. You are letting the time of sowing and reaping pass because you are afraid of what might happen in the future. The time will come when it is too late to sow or reap, too late to obey God, and too late to accept the challenge he has given us. What has the Lord commanded you to do, but you are holding back for fear of what might happen?
Here is at least one resolution to add to that list of New Year’s resolutions: “In 2010, by God’s grace and help, I will not allow the possibility of future trouble to keep me from doing what He has commanded me to do.”
Let us repent for the opportunities we missed in 2009, and let us resolve that in 2010 we will not allow the wind to keep us from sowing, or the clouds to keep us from reaping. Amen.
Leave a comment