THE PARABLE OF THE CORN FARMER

by: Norberto Betita

In the life stories of men we learn many relevant lessons that contribute to appropriate applications in our daily run of life’s activities. On many occasions a true story of one man, becomes a parable to others. Sad experiences help others to learn to battle and endure adversities of life, and success stories allows us to realize that even in abundance and prosperity there is still a challenge and a goliath to defeat. Such is the story of one man who worked hard to find success. He almost made it to the top, but was pulled down by variables which he failed to project.  His story becomes the parable of the corn farmer.

There was once a poor man who lives happily with his family in a dungeon like apartment. His three children sleep on the cement floor with a two (2) inches mattress serving as protective shield from the cold, while for him and his wife is only a thin native floor mat. Rodents awake them in the stillness of the night.  Yet, despite poverty and deprivation, he and his family enjoyed their life with faith and fervor.

One day a rich friend came and offered him to cultivate a corn field, with the promise to provide him with all that he needs in the crop growing process. The negotiations included a very strong and powerful motivation for a prospective abundant life for him and his family. With visions high for the welfare of his struggling family, he resigned from his low paying job and accepted the offer.

True to his promise, his rich friend provided him with the needed tools to start working on the corn field. His friend even advised him to leave their one-room dungeon like apartment and transfer to a more comfortable dwelling. Confident that he will truly make a good harvest with the help of his rich friend, he consented. As has been his inherent personal virtue, he worked very hard to develop the small corn field. Despite his inexperience, he was able to cultivate the field towards a good harvest.

The rich friend, observant of the industry of the neophyte corn farmer, offered the latter with a bigger field to cultivate. True to his commitment to his friend and motivated by his earnest desire for growth and development for his family, and to help those who suffer the same deprivations as he has—the poor and needy, he accepted the second offer. With increased enthusiasm and gusto, he worked even harder to develop the new field and planted more and more corn, with higher prospects for a better harvest. He often left home leaving his family to the protective care of his in-laws.

Impressed by his innate ability to move their partnership undertaking to progress, his good rich friend again offered him an even bigger and more fertile field.  This time, he was hesitant, for he would be much farther from home. The rich friend, however, was very insistent and offered a spacious and more comfortable house for his family to live, with some rental subsidy. The farmer finally consented and moved his family to a far distant place.  He then tilled the field and found it to be very fertile, and in so short a time through diligence and hard work, had planted more and more seeds on a very productive farm. He envisioned a very fruitful harvest and invested more in the cultivation process, applying every conceivable method, acquiring most needed tools and equipments, and hiring additional workers to assure himself and his rich friend of a bountiful harvest. Soon enough, he saw each plant yielding plentiful ears of corn bulging with bold and solid kernels, a sure sign of a more abundant harvest.

However, as the harvest season came, his rich friend became envious of the bold and solid kernels and the spirit of greed crept in his heart. With intents to do the harvest all by himself, the rich friend suspended all his support to the farmer, and charged the latter of accounts beyond his immediate ability to pay. Then in a short while, the rich man took control of the cultivated fields and stripped the farmer of all that he possessed even his dignity, honor and reputation. With hands hanged down and head bowed the corn farmer returned to where he started.

The lessons we can learn from this parable applies both to the rich and the poor. To the poor it is a reminder that,  “Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” (Proverbs 15: 16.) It is oftentimes better to decide to leave the “treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal,” (Matthew 6:19), even if we have to bow our heads in shame, and be stripped of dignity, honor and reputation. We would rather lose everything that we so diligently and faithfully worked for, if needs be in favor of “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.” (Matthew 6:20.) Therefore, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1). As in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-25), Lazarus begged for “crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table,” but at his death he “was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom.” 

It is also a plain reminder that at times we have to put some limits to our trust, especially as regards financial matters as in the words of Micah “Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide…” (Micah 7:5). We need to be reminded by these words from the Psalmist, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8).

To the rich, this parable teaches that “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house…(Proverbs 15:27). It is a clear warning that, “the love of money” which “is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10), at times makes him like “… greedy dogs which can never have enough…” (Isaiah 56:11.) And “…with eyes full of greediness..” (D & C 68:31), he is sometimes tempted to choose even to keep the crumbs for himself. Then, “Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey…” (Psalms 17:12), he takes all from his victim even that which he does not own. Sometimes he forgets that as he covets and “erred from the faith,” he can be “pierced…through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10.) Hence in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-25), the rich man when he died, “in hell he lift up his eyes.”

The story of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus how he can inherit eternal life could be a fitting message. Jesus told him “Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. ” And the young ruler responded that “all these I have kept from my youth up.” Jesus then,  “said unto him, ...lackest thou one thing, sell all that thou hast,  and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. The young ruler was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” The Lord’s promise and guarantee for treasures in heaven which are eternal in replacement of the young ruler’s earthly riches which are temporal did not as even find a place in the latter’s heart.  This made Jesus to say, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:18-25.) However, I believe that it is not about being rich or having an abundant life that make it hard for a man to enter the kingdom of God but it is the attitude towards riches that becomes a deterrent.

The best alternative for both the rich and the poor is found in the Lord’s admonition, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33.) The Lord promised, “Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.” (2 Nephi 1:20.) It is also important that they should be worthy to be taught by the Holy Ghost of “the peaceable things of the Kingdom” (D &C 36:2) for both the rich and the poor to be at peace with everybody in their associations. And as we develop the attributes of charity, which is the pure love of Christ, then whether we are poor or rich, bond or free, we will reap the promised joy and gladness in the kingdom of God.

If the story may be extended, the corn farmer, after such unimaginable failure may chose to “go on, living only a shadow of life” he “could have led, never rising to the potential that is” his “birthright.” And, therefore allow “worldly sorrow” to pull him “down, and extinguish” his “hope, and persuade” him “to give in to further temptation.” Yet he also has the choice to recognize his mistake and rise up with “godly sorrow” which “inspires change and hope through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” For, “our destiny is not determined by the number of times we stumble but by the number of times we rise up, dust ourselves off, and move forward.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf.) However, the choice remains in him for he has the moral agency to choose for himself.