By: Denny

There once was a young couple who bought a small acreage. They had always dreamed of moving to the country and living off the land. The husband had a day job in town which provided just enough income to meet their meager lifestyle. After work and on weekends, they enjoyed working in their small organic garden, raising their own food. One day they got the idea that with the land they had that was just sitting fallow, they could plow it up and start a small farm. They could plant fruit trees, grow vegetables, and raise other crops. To start with they could set up a roadside stand and possibly expand to grocery stores. Of course, this meant the husband would have to quit his job and devote all his time to farming. The little bit of savings they had would carry them through until the crops started coming in. They were excited about the possibilities of their new adventure, but where would they begin? Well, there was that little barn, they thought, “We should buy a horse and use him to pull a plow and a wagon.” “That would save us a lot of work and also be environmentally friendly.” It was November when they began their search for the perfect horse. One day as they were driving around the countryside, they spotted a sign, “HORSE FOR SALE”. They stopped and made inquiry. The horse was advanced in years, but the price was right and included delivery, some free hay, straw, and oats to boot. What a bargain! The couple had a nice comfortable stall all ready for the horse on the day he arrived. It would be several months until spring planting which would give them plenty of time to establish a relationship with the horse. In the meantime, they began to paint signs and advertise their new business. There were seeds to buy and they were able to acquire a used harness, a plow, and a wagon. Finally, the big day arrived. They harnessed the horse, led him to the field, and hitched him to the plow. With great anticipation, a big beaming smile, and reins in hand; the man confidently told the horse, “Giddy-up!” Nothing happened. Again, the man repeated the command, but the horse just stood there. Puzzled and becoming frustrated the farmer slapped the reins and issued other commands with a louder voice. The wife tried tugging on the halter at the same time with equal results, the horse wouldn’t budge. After about thirty minutes, they unhitched him and led the horse back to the barn. Realizing their efforts had failed in getting the horse to pull the plow, they decided to call the guy they bought him from. When they told him of their plight, he laughed and said, “Old Joe hasn’t worked a day in his life, much less pull a plow!” “All he wants  is to be fed, act like he owns the place, make piles of messes that need cleaning up, and demands lots of attention.” The couple had invested their hopes, dreams, finances, and future success in a horse that wouldn’t work for them.   

They had become so attached to the horse that getting rid of him was not an option. They sat down and began to discuss what to do to get the farm up and going. They decided to buy a small tractor to pull the plow and wagon in place of the horse that wouldn’t work. They were able to get the ground plowed and planted much faster, and their first crop was a huge success. All this time they had been buying hay and feed for the horse that wouldn’t work and having someone deliver it. “This is expensive and ridiculous”, they thought. “Why not grow our own hay and oats.” So, they went out and borrowed the money to buy a seeder, a baler, a mower, and a rake to pull behind the tractor, which they had already bought in place of the horse that wouldn’t work. These new debts put a strain on their budget, which was of no relevance or concern to the horse that wouldn’t work. After all, he had everything he wanted. The next year’s crop was even better. Word had gotten out and advertising had paid off to the point they were supplying produce to several grocery stores. Up until now the tractor and implements had to sit outside in the weather which wasn’t good for them. They decided to borrow more money to build a shed for their machinery, pulled by the tractor, which they needed to grow the hay to feed the horse that wouldn’t work. Sadly, the next year there was a drought and no harvest. To make up for the loss of income they decided they would both have to get jobs in town, which required purchasing another vehicle. They used up what little savings they had left and had to borrow the rest and bought a pickup. They both worked hard to pay off the loans for the truck, the shed, the machinery, and the tractor, which they needed to grow the hay and oats to feed the horse that wouldn’t work, who was now eating and requiring more feed than ever. They soon found that they were having less time and energy to run the farm. This began to put a strain on their relationship as well. They were constantly arguing as they fell increasingly behind on paying their debts. The man began to stop at bars after work and drank heavily to relieve the stress. The farm was becoming overgrown with unwanted weeds that had come from the neighbor’s field. The bank repossessed the truck, the machinery, and the tractor. All they had left was an old excuse of a horse named Joe that wouldn’t work, yet they just couldn’t part with him.

Moral of the story: Next time you buy a horse make sure he has an actual history of working and can pull a plow. Otherwise, he may cause you to lose everything. Also, if he isn’t doing his job, put him out to pasture and let him graze on the foreign weeds which are there because he wouldn’t work. Better yet, sell him to the dog food or glue factory. Wait a minute, I think they both closed due to government regulations and fines for having a high carbon footprint.

I Corinthians 3: 13

Each one’s work will become manifest; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

2 Thessalonians 3:10

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

Proverbs 29:2 

When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.