Worthless!

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. –Proverbs 12:11 (ESV)

Very seldom is sin one dimensional. Not only does the behavior itself negatively impact us directly, it also keeps us from doing things that would profit us in one way or another indirectly. Sometimes the cost of the latter is greater than that of the former, though it is lost in the future. Solomon uses an agrarian illustration to encourage us to keep busy working our land. This does two things. First, it helps provide for the bread we need to eat (direct result). Second, and equally important, it keeps us from having time to follow worthless pursuits (indirect result).

Notice, it does not say that these pursuits are necessarily sinful, but they do lack sense. This is true on several levels. For starters, these pursuits that seem innocent enough ultimately whet our appetites for certain activities and inactivity. So much of the entertainment in the present culture represent this. Video games, surfing the web, and inordinate amounts of social media give young minds dopamine hits that assure they will return to the same activity again and again, wasting countless hours. Next, it sets our children on a certain trajectory on taking the path of least resistance. According to the Newton’s First Law, things that are in motion tend to stay in motion. Once a trajectory begins, it must be met with an equal or greater force, or it keeps right on going. That greater force can, regretfully, be very painful. However, if our children can get on the right trajectory early, it will naturally carry them into adulthood. Third, it sets a perspective that suggests these worthless pursuits reflect real life. Social influences have convinced too many young people that the current culture trends can go on forever even though it is morally, financial, and historically unsustainable. Our children need to discern between that which is valuable and that which is worthless.

Just because we can doesn’t mean we should. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” We must teach our children to have a greater vision than just getting by. They need to understand that having “plenty” in their relationship with God, future spouse, children, physical health, financial health, etc. starts with spending their time, energy, and focus in good and godly pursuits versus worthless ones. We must stress that who they are ten years from now starts with stewarding the grace of God today.

We need to pray that God will give our children a vision to work the field they are presently in, whether that represents their schooling, physical health, part-time job, musical instrument, or whatever. They must realize that there is all manner of work that needs to be done in taking care of their fields. Farmers do more than planting and harvesting. There are fence rows to be cleared out in the winter, waterways to be worked on in the summer, and tile to be laid whenever they can. Once harvest is over there are filters to change, zerks to grease, and equipment to be washed and waxed. There is always something to be done in every season. Boredom should not be an option. This kind of vision is not one and done but must be repeated again and again to combat the culture’s continual stream of messaging.

In addition to praying for our upcoming conference, let us pray that our children will realize how precious this season is in their lives:

1. While different personalities have different degrees of drive, pray that our sons will catch a vision of the importance and joy of work.
   • The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. –Gen. 2:15
   • In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. –Proverbs 14:23
     
2. Pray that God will help our children understand what qualifies as “worthless pursuits.”
   • Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. –Proverbs 28:19 (a repeat!)
   • I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. –Psalms 101:3
     
3. Pray that God will grace our children to despise worthless pursuits.
   • The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. –Proverbs 8:13
   • Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. –Proverbs 15:32
     
4. Pray that our children might find their passions early, so they can build upon their skills.
   • Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. –Ecc. 11:9
   • Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. –1 Samuel 2:26
     
5. Pray that God will give our children a spirit of diligence early in their lives.
   • A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. –Proverbs 10:4
   • The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. –Proverbs 12:24
     
6. Pray that God will break off any relationships that would lead our children into worthless pursuits.
   • My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. –Proverbs 1:10
   • delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, –Proverbs 2:12
     
7. Pray that God would give our children a big vision for life and for His kingdom.
   • Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.–Proverbs 29:18
   • I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. –1 Cor. 7:35
     
8. As our children increasingly understand and embrace the person of Christ, pray they will experience His glory.
   • My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. –Psalms 71:8
   • filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. –Phil 1:11

(This article would be good to read with your young teenagers as they are at the beginning of realizing for themselves what “worthless pursuits” are.)