Consider your field:
Proverbs 31:16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
What does it actually mean to consider? The Web Dictionary says it this way: to think deliberately or carefully; reflect, to view carefully or thoughtfully.
However the Hebrew word for consider is Zamam: meaning to have a thought, devise, plan, purpose, imagine. This is quite different from the word today. It has more of a risk and driven intent.
Hebrew word for buy laqach
Pronounced lä·kakh' meaning to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept.
This word is more than purchasing it means to commit to marry, to be bound to the land she is taking hold of.
So Proverbs 31:16 could be read this way
She imagines a plan and devises a purpose to lay hold and commits to a field.
When researching the ways to begin a vineyard I actually found a 6 step program on the World Wide Web. Listen for the spiritual connection to begin a vision…
* And bold font indicate the actually web advice
6 Things to consider before you become a vinedresser
The grape. This is the first major decision you MUST make. What are you planting?
The region. Keep in mind, Vineyards need a lot of heat.*Wine grapes usually require hot days and cool nights, and relatively dry climates that do not present a great deal of water per acre. Are you ready for the heat? Are your water supplies full?
The investment. What is this going to cost you? *Don’t kid yourself: Even for the independently wealthy, winemaking is not a business that carries low start-up costs and yields an immediate profit. This is truly a business venture for someone who is financially well-to-do and can afford to wait a good deal of time before realizing a return on investment. The experts aren’t kidding when they say that this is a business that will be profitable for your grandchildren.
The licensing/covering. Who will validate and endorse you. *Of course, starting a winery comes with some red tape. You’ll need a license from the state government and one from the federal government before you can start to produce or distribute wines.
The Marketing. Who is your audience, your niche, the people you are trying to reach? *This is a bit of a dry subject, but it’s essential for success. Before you get properly started, you must decide what market you plan to serve.
The support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help *One thing to remember about the business of winemaking is that you’re not alone in the venture; in fact, it’s accepted practice to look inside the industry for support. “I look at winemaking like I did being a driver,” says Andretti. “I don't know the inner workings of the engine, but you know that when it is right on song you are onto a winner.”
We have a field that God has placed under our care, our watch, our responsibility. Many times it is our family, our house holds, our aging parents, our unsaved husbands. In other cases it’s our ministries, jobs or volunteering. The important thing is to remember to focus on our one field and do it well!
Deuteronomy 22:9 Do not plant two kinds of seed in your vineyard; if you do, not only the crops you plant but also the fruit of the vineyard will be defiled.
The actually Hebrew meaning of defiled is to be separated to be set apart or in this case separated from the fruit you are working so hard to produce. You will labor in vain. We can prevent frustration by focusing on what is in our hands NOW. More fields will come with time, wisdom and maturity.
Master the field you are in before you start another one. Good example: Marriage or parenting is our first priority but many times it becomes our second field. God, family, ministry/field
Sometims, we mothers can get so occupied with our work or ministry that we drag our children around or begin to blend ministry and parenting. A good parenting ministry is birthed because of Good Parenting. We are called to be a light to our families, co-workers or husbands but sometimes we do not view them as a mission field or our field but view tham as hindering us from our ministry. This is when we do one, of two things.
1. We may dismiss them and consider another field that may be more interesting. Or
2. We try to juggle two fields and each one only gets 50% of our strength. And thus seeing our fruit separated from us.
Don’t get discouraged because you feel like you have been waiting a lifetime for your field. Remember the 100 year old vine.
Their will be plenty of times you will feel frustrated or on hold while you wait for your field. It maybe a timing issue or training issue. You may be ready, but your field is not. Or maybe your field is waiting for you to be equipped and trained. Either way we must be in constant communication with the Father as to what we need to be doing in the field we are in RIGHT NOW! No matter how small or insignificant it may seem or feel at times.
Zec 4:10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel
Many Times God is testing our faithfulness.
Luke 16:10-13 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. 11 And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? 12 And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? 13 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” NLT
Stay the course
Our promise when we are faithful in our giving and our first fruits.
Malachi 3:11-12
“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts
The Hebrew meaning for the Ground could also be read as Territory.
Hebrew meaning for vine could also be read prosperity
Hebrew for fail to bear fruit is miscarry, bareness or to be bereaved
Hebrew word for Blessed, Happy, lead, advanced, forward.
So hear it this way.
I will rebuke the devourer for your sake that he will not be aloud to cause your territory to be barren, you will not miscarry what your land is called to conceive. Your vine will be prosperous, full of life and fruitful for the territory you are called to occupy. All the nations will see that you are happy and advanced and look to you to lead them forward.
Things to consider.
What type of field am I cultivating? -Who am I trying to reach?
The un-reached, the saved, the broken, the forgotten, hungry, the prisoners, the orphans…
What is the condition of the field? - Why do I need to reach them? What do I need to be prepared for? Have I educated myself on the people, the area or the region? Have I researched the history, the strongholds, the strengths, the weaknesses? What must be done to win heart, heal heart, and reach hearts?
This weeks Homework: Who is my field? And how can I reach them?
Research the need of the areas: The tools you may need to acquire to reach them. Do you need to learn a foreign language? Do you need to take a class? Do you need to get connected with somebody who is in the field you are called to reach? Do you need to help another vinedresser while you are waiting for the fruit in your field?
