I was born and raised in Iowa. So, I have seen plenty of barns and plenty of farms. My father was raised on a farm. My grandpa Langenberg was a farmer who raised 8 children on the farm. I remember as a child playing in the barns on my grandpa's farm. I had plenty of friends who were raised on farms as well, but I had never heard this object lesson regarding the barn and the farmer before I read this one.
Here are some excerpts from Elmore's chapter on "Barn Building":
"A farmer and his wife purchased some new property. They were excited about moving and settling down on this new land. They both wanted to build a house, a silo, a three-car garage, a shed, a swing set and a barn. They were passionate about each structure, but.....which should come first?
The decision was finally reduced to either the house or the barn. The wife wanted to build the house first. The farmer had to admit,(her ideas) sounded great! But when she had finished, he smiled and said they shouldn't build the house first. He felt they should build the barn first. She was shocked. "Why? she asked. "Aren't we more important than the animals?" They went back and forth in disagreement. Their argument finally ended when the farmer played the "trump card". He said, "Sweetheart, we have to build the barn first...because the barn will build the house."
Do you understand how profound these words were? Like his wife, if you were developing a farm, the first item you may think you need is a house. That's where you eat, sleep, and live. Sounds logical, right? But any wise farmer would suggest a different plan. Build the barn. The house is "overhead". The barn is the hub of all of the profit-making work. The animals live there, so it produces your milk, eggs, and meat. The equipment stored there is necessary for working the fields and growing crops. Without the barn, the farm could generate little income. If you neglect the barn and build only the house, the house is all you get. Build the barn, and you can build a house, shed, silo, chicken coop, and even another barn....you can build pretty much anything!
In almost every endeavor, there is a "barn", or an activity that is vital to the life of the project, or organization. In business, it's called the "critical transaction". It's the activity that if you don't do it, you're "out of business." On a farm, the barn represents the critical transaction. Without the barn, the life of the farm cannot be sustained. Similarly, the critical transaction of an airline is not when the plane takes off, but when the customer buys the ticket. A radio station's critical transaction is not choosing what songs to play, but selling airtime for commercials. When people don't buy, businesses don't run. Planes can't take off and songs cannot play.
Jesus taught this principal to a woman named Martha when she tried to get her sister to help in the kitchen one evening (Luke 10:38-42). "Martha was overwhelmed with all she had to do. "Martha, Martha", the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Jesus wasn't saying Martha's activity was evil. He was just reminding her she had one "critical transaction" she was forgetting. Her sister Mary was practicing it.
As I read this chapter from Elmore, I was pondering the Family Ministry Model at our church. What are we asking from the parents, foster parents, grandparents and future parents who attend our church? We are asking them to become the "primary disciple makers of their children (and in some cases foster children or grandchildren). THIS is the "critical transaction" in your family. There is nothing more important, other than your own salvation, than to be the primary disciple maker of your children. You will be held accountable one day for those precious souls that are being raised in your home, under your care. You have many choices as a parent, just as the farmer and his wife had choices of building a house, a silo, a 3-car garage, a swing set, etc. The wise farmer decided to build the barn first. Which is the most important choice for you and your family?
5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9
Isn't this THE "critical transaction" for the parent or parents who call themselves followers of Christ?
Terry Langenberg
Twitter: TheLangenberg
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