Proverbs 12:11 Food or fantasies?
Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense. Proverbs 12:11 NIV
One thing that strikes me as I read through Proverbs is how practical and pragmatic many are. Here, for example, my first impression is that of a counselor telling a hungry visionary: “You need to eat. And sleep. And get your health in order. Stop what you are doing and use what you have, sell it at the market and then buy some food. You look starved!”
There are two thoughts here: The first is about using what you have and performing the obvious task which is in front of you. The second is having a dream or ambition that is not quite connected to reality to which your energy, life, money, and attention are being spent. Both are being observed, and the person looking on concludes, “Insane!” Or “no sense!” What is it they are seeing? A result. Fruitfulness. Or more possibly, fruitlessness. Maybe a disposition within the two individuals. One is happy, fed, content, and exudes the presence of being in the present. The other is restless. Unsettled. Unfocused. He gives the observer a sense of insecurity. The person may look weak, sick, and underfed.
The Rotherham literal translation says of the second. “But he that runneth after worthless men lacketh sense [or brains].” A footnote adds the Septuagint’s translation: “He that delighteth himself in the drinking of wine shall leave his own stronghold a disgrace.”
The word translated “fantasies” is from the Hebrew reikim, meaning empty, vain, or worthless. Sometimes referring to men. Always referring to void or lacking (something). Sense is from the Hebrew meaning “inner man, mind, will, heart.” It’s easy to see the picture here — this person is not investing in vision, or ambition, rather he is seeking something that is known to have little or no value. It won’t give him what he wants. How come others can see it, but he can’t? This person wants something and truly believes that in this nothingness, he will find it. It’s misdirected or misunderstood at best. At worst, he’s deceiving himself. It’s a lie!
The meat of this proverb is the first line. You have something. Every man has been given something. Use it. Work with it. Do your best with it. Do what you know to do and you will eat. Your soul will be satisfied. This isn’t too hard, is it? But it may appear boring.
Why is it that what I have, what I am most familiar with, my biggest strength, the thing that makes me who I am — is the thing I am the quickest to dismiss? It’s human nature to inventory our gifts and then minimize them for the pursuit of something that seems sexy and out of reach. But there is something to understand here. Men and women have only one life. We have only so much energy and must spend it on what is needed. Food is needed. Shelter is needed. Relationship is needed. You have your own land. Work it! Make it produce what it was meant to produce. It is good fruit. And it makes good sense. There is substance in it.
All ambitions in life must align with reality. Big dreams are fine and good, but putting effort into something that is physically, statistically, practically impossible is a waste of time. Dreaming big or having your sights set high is another topic completely. And breaking out of prisons in which we are held and being released into the glorious freedom of the sons of God is our inheritance, and yet another topic. Our freedom in Christ IS that land. But it is not empty. Not worthless. Not vain. And guaranteed to produce. If I wonder which one I am pursuing, I only need to ask those who are closest to me: “Am I well fed or lacking sense?”
So, before judging another who appears to be chasing fireflies as an occupation, consider yourself. Am I using my God-given land, the gifts with which I am endowed, to their fullest? Have I discovered all the freedoms for which Christ set me free? If so, chances are I will not appear quite as boring as the chaser of frivolities thinks.