The parable of the Chinese farmer …

I listen to hundreds of sermons every year and, while doing so, I’ll occasionally hear a preacher tell a story I’ve also told in a sermon sometime in the past. That happened to me yesterday while listening to a minister I was unfamiliar with, but he told a story I was very familiar with because I’ve also shared it before.

Let me share it again, for you, now. It’s the parable of the Chinese farmer.

Once upon a time, a poor Chinese farmer lost his horse. Several of his neighbors came to commiserate with him, as the loss of a horse would mean hardship in his farm labor. But the farmer simply replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no, we’ll see.”

Shortly after that, the farmer’s horse returned to the farm, bringing another horse with him. Hearing of this, his neighbors gathered and said to the farmer, “Well, this is good fortune for you!” But the farmer simply replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no, we’ll see.”

A few days later, the farmer’s son was trying to tame the new horse and, in the process, fell and seriously injured his leg. All the neighbors came around and said, “Well, that’s too bad.” But the farmer responded, “Maybe yes, maybe no, we’ll see.”

Just a few days after that, the emperor declared war on a neighboring nation and ordered all able-bodied men to come fight. Many died or were badly maimed, but because the farmer’s son was unable to fight due to his injury, he was spared. Once again, all the neighbors came around and said, “Well, that’s good fortune,” to which the farmer replied, “Maybe yes, maybe no. We’ll see …”

The farmer’s neighbors were like people today who immediately react to events or circumstances without having an understanding of their purpose, overall value, or final impact. Some things that, in the moment, may seem to be positive won’t turn out to be; or, some things that seem to be crises and catastrophes will eventually yield a blessing.

Because we can’t see the end from the beginning, it’s wise to learn to be more like the farmer and not be reactionary to events or circumstances without understanding them. But God does see the end from the beginning:

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed,” Psalm 139:16.

And because God does see the end from the beginning, scripture implores us not be reactionary but, instead, respond by praying, seeking the guidance and wisdom of God who knows all and sees all:

“Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come,” Jeremiah 33:3.

“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up,” Luke 18:1.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere,” Ephesians 6:18.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done,” Philippians 4:6.

“Never stop praying,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Has something come up that seems to perhaps be “good fortune” … or seems to be negative? A good response would be, “Maybe yes, maybe no, I’ll see …” and then go to God in prayer.

Scotty